NASCAR (in English)

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http://www.nascar.com/video/features...eason-thunder/

Live: Preseason Thunder

The cars are back out on the new surface at Daytona International Speedway for the second testing session. Watch as they take more laps around the historic track.

More: Close to 40 teams expected | Fan Fest appearances



http://www.nascar.com/news/110120/pr...y-1/index.html

Scratching the surface

It was a day for new teammates on a new surface with new front ends on the cars and new fuel. It's a feeling of re-birth at Daytona after one day of Preseason Thunder.

More: Racing on new pavement demands trust, respect | Stewart addresses quarrel

Anticipation builds throughout first day of testing
Drivers thrilled to be back on the track; learning curve still an issue for many

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Blue skies, warm air. Cars on the race track.

That's how the 2011 edition of Preseason Thunder at Daytona kicked off Thursday at Daytona International Speedway, the first of a three-day Sprint Cup Series test.



I think that last year we learned a lot more about ourselves and kind of validated our core beliefs and stuck to what the 48 team is known for. -- #48 Jimmie Johnson



Sound Off: A new track and a wild 500
Drivers give their thoughts on the new surface at Daytona, look forward to first race.
New points system?



Bayne to run at least 17 races in No. 21
Rookie takes over iconic car on part-time basis, including first five of '11.
Bill Elliott's part-time ride



McMurray signs new deal with EGR
Contract confirmed by McMurray's agent on Wednesday.
Chase predictions



Fantasy Showdown: Fantasy goes live!
Fein, Kimm and Estes offer their opinions, suggestions for playing NASCAR Fantasy Live.
Play Fantasy!



Nadeau to serve as coach for Earnhardt
Rookie Jeffrey to get boost from former Cup veteran on, off track.
Earnhardt Truck stats



McDowell to drive for re-named HP Racing
Humphrey, Parsons announce new team name, same driver.
N'wide races for JGR

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http://www.nascar.com/news/110124/fs...ssi/index.html

Full of ideas - Felix Sabates has never struggled to express his thoughts, and they usually draw a reaction. This time, even his team is split on his fix for the NASCAR points situation.

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Tickets: All Daytona events

Sabates offers another suggestion to NASCAR
Never short on opinions, team minority owner has fresh take on 2011 points



That system we've got now,
I don't think Einstein could figure it out.
-- FELIX SABATES
If there is one of you [in the media] who say you understand that bull----,
I say you're crazy, you're lying," Sabates said.

"The new point system they are talking about -- the 1 through 43 -- I think is great.
But I think they should take the four worst races of the year [for each driver] and throw them away.
So [to qualify] for the Chase, you would only count your best 22 out of the first 26 races," Sabates said.
"That would change the whole dynamic of the Chase."

Sabates said he has done the math and insisted that EGR driver Jamie McMurrray, who failed to qualify for the Chase last year, would have qualified in the fourth position under his proposed format.

"And who knows? Maybe he would have won the Chase," Sabates said. "I think they need to do something where if you have a wreck or a mistake by a driver or a crew chief that costs you a lap or two, it won't cost you a season, too."

Sabates added that he also has "a theory" where NASCAR could award an additional 10 bonus points for a victory, but also five points for second and third place, "so second and third mean something. I think you would see a lot of different racing if you did that."

"How about throwing out the worst eight?" said a smiling Brian Pattie, Juan Montoya's crew chief. "Felix knows what's going on, but I don't know that that will happen. It's still about being consistent. But if you threw out a few bad ones, I definitely could pick out a few."

And Montoya added that he believed throwing out four bad races from each driver wouldn't make much difference in the long run.

"Racing is racing. It's not a lottery," Montoya said. "If the rules were to dictate that and you took four bad races from everyone else in front of you, they still probably would be ahead."

Ryan Newman, a driver for Stewart-Haas Racing, agreed with Montoya that throwing four bad races out for each driver wouldn't matter much in the big picture. But he said he has a suggestion of his own. He said he has long advocated giving bonus points for winning a pole.

Newman's car owner and teammate, Tony Stewart, added that he's won championships under two different formats already and that the only thing that really matters is that everyone is on the same page of understanding about the format when a season begins.

"The thing is just as long as we all understand what we've got to do at the beginning of the year. As long as we all know that, it's the same for everybody," Stewart said.

Meanwhile, Ganassi defended his minority partner's suggestion.

"Well, you know, I'll tell you this: you can accuse my partner of a lot of things -- but dumb isn't one of them. So if he says it, you'd better listen," Ganassi said.
"If you could throw some [bad races] out, here's the thing: if you finish last now you get 34 points out of [a possible 185 base points]. That's 17 percent or something like that [actually 18.4] -
- whereas if you finish last in a system where it's one through 43, it's two percent [actually 4.7]. And that's a pretty big freakin' hole to try to dig yourself out of."


Where do you think Brian Vickers will finish in the points standings for the 2011 season?
1-5 = 2 %
6-10 = 11 %
11-15 = 40 %
16-25 = 38 %
26-43 = 9 %
Total Votes: 43301


Preseason Thunder


Chitwood working on track's reputation
One of his biggest challenges is less than four weeks away.
1-on-1 with Chitwood


RPM announces full sponsorship plans
DeWalt returns to NASCAR; Several others back with RPM.
Best Buy stays with 43


Conway, Nemechek team for Speedweeks
Last season's top rookie will drive No. 97 Toyota in Shootout, Duel race.
Photos: Kevin Conway


Home Tracks: Fired up for the Showdown
Notes: Toyota all-star race brings top talent to Irwindale for Saturday's prime-time event.
NASCAR Home Tracks


Earnhardt gets familiar crew chief
Lax has longstanding relationship with Truck rookie's family.
Nadeau driver coach


Officials not worried about high speeds
Two-car drafts top 198 mph, but changes to plates not expected.
Dominant drafts


McMurray hoping to build on successes
Coming off a year of professional and personal gains.
A new perspective

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http://www.nascar.com/news/110125/rc...ard/index.html

Throwing down the gauntlet

Richard Childress has every confidence in his three returning drivers, plus new hire Paul Menard. Tuesday, Childress said they're coming after Jimmie Johnson.

Menard tops drivers to watch | Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Tickets: Daytona events



Richard Childress tasted champagne after Talladega, but he plans on celebrating at the Cup Series banquet in 2011.
Childress throws down the gauntlet for 2011
Owner not shy in saying his four-car team is coming after Johnson's spot


I'm glad that Richard has the confidence to say we're going to win it. I'd be real nervous if he didn't. -- JEFF BURTON

"I just know how hard we worked this winter. We do every winter. But I know how prepared our company is with all four of our Cup teams, and I just feel this year is our shot to get it done."

Bowyer said the key for his No. 33 Chevrolet team and the rest of the RCR gang will be not to rest on last year's laurels.

Childress admitted that he and his employees have a swagger about them as they gear up for the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 20. He did not apologize for it.

He laughed when he was asked if he perceived Johnson and his No. 48 team being more vulnerable this year than in recent seasons.

"I get those gut feelings. I just have that gut feeling that this year is our year, and we're going to throw everything at it that we can. If we don't win it, it won't be because we don't give it everything we've got."


How many races will Elliott Sadler win in 2011 as a full-time Nationwide driver for KHI?
None = 13 %
1-2 = 33 %
3-4 = 39 %
5 or more = 15 %
Total Votes: 14891


Sadler steps down to move career forward
Move to Nationwide puts focus on racing instead of off-track drama.
A new challenge


Hornish keeps faith in himself and Penske
Lack of sponsorship may have cost his Cup ride, but his owner stood behind him.
Series coverage


Waltrip to make 25th consecutive 500 start
Paint scheme tribute to Earnhardt, reminiscent of '01 victory.
Bud Shootout lineup


Analyzing Saturday's All-Star Showdown
Quick-hit items about the race, which has had five different winners in seven years.
NASCAR Home Tracks

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http://www.nascar.com/news/110126/kk...ull/index.html

'As good as anything'

After an unusual agreement landed him a one-year ride with Red Bull, Kasey Kahne is ready to put a tumultuous 2010 in his rear-view mirror and concentrate on winning.

Meeting expectations | Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live | Tickets: Daytona events

Kahne excited about his season with Red Bull
Says arrangement for 2011 is 'as good as anything I've ever had, if not the best'

I don't feel like I have near enough wins, like I have near enough poles, like I've made the Chase enough.



Kahne went winless in 2010, leaving him with 11 Cup victories in a seven-year span. During that time, he's won 20 poles and made the Chase twice. But he believes he should have done better.

And winning races and making the Chase are utmost on his mind as he prepares to strap in for Red Bull.

And for Kahne, "this time of his career" is all about turning the page, regaining confidence and achieving goals. He may be a one-year rental, but he's hoping to make a permanent impression.



Revamped RPM could make play for Danica
Murstein would like to see a third car in the stable come 2012.
Almirola to help Patrick



Behind the wheel with Keselowski
Driver pens first blog on NASCAR.COM, talks about plans for '11.
Will anything change?

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NASCAR Home Tracks



Matt Kobyluck (40) is a two-time winner in the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Getty Images for NASCAR

Statistical Advance: Analyzing The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown

Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.) is set to play host to the eighth running of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown, Jan. 28-29.

About the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown: ‘Daytona 500 of short-track racing.’

Last Year’s Race:
* Joey Logano joined Matt Kobyluck as the only two-time winners of the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. Logano led 171 of the 225 laps.

Kobyluck finished third for his sixth top-five placing in the seven all-time events.

Logano drove the No. 25 Home Depot Toyota of Fadden Racing and former NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Mike Olsen.

NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown History:
* The event has produced a different winner in five of its first seven editions.
* Previous race winners include current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers David Gilliland (2005) and Joey Logano (2007, 2009).
* Sixty-eight (68) drivers with a Showdown start have also competed in one of NASCAR's three national series.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE | BUY TICKETS

Toyota Speedway at Irwindale Data
Non-Points Race (1/29/11)
Track Layout: .5-mile banked oval
• Opened in 1999.
• Has been the site for the first seven NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdowns.

All-Star Showdown Race Winners
2003 ... Austin Cameron (West)
2004 ... Mike Johnson (East)
2005 ... David Gilliland (West)
2006 ... Matt Kobyluck (East)
2007 ... Joey Logano (East)
2009 ... Matt Kobyluck (East)
2010 ... Joey Logano (East)

Matt Kobyluck (No. 40 Chevrolet)
• The 2008 NKNPS East champion.

Travis Pastrana (No. 99 Toyota)
• Plans to make seven NNS starts in 2011, beginning with Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.

Darrell Wallace Jr. (No. 6 Toyota)
• The 2010 NKNPS East Sunoco Rookie of the Year.

Steve Wallace. (No. 66 Toyota)
• Will attempt to make his first NKNPS start in this race.
• Has 29 top 10s in 157 career NNS starts since 2005.
• Is slated to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in the 2011 Daytona 500.

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http://www.nascar.com/news/110126/na...ges/index.html

Competition changes revealed

NASCAR has announced its changes for 2011, chief among them a simpler points system and a wild-card element to the Chase that rewards winning.

Caraviello: Changes made with hardcore fans in mind | Video: Changes announced

Changes for 2011 include emphasis on winning
Final two Chase spots based on victories; simpler points system identified

While the 12-driver Chase field remains intact, the final two spots will be determined by the number of victories during the first 26 races.

The top 10 in points following Race No. 26 -- the "cutoff" race -- continue to earn Chase berths.

Positions 11 and 12 are "wild-card" qualifiers and will go to non-top-10-ranked drivers with the most victories, as long as they're ranked in the top 20 in points.

The top 10 Chase drivers will continue to be seeded based on victories during the first 26 races, with each win worth three bonus points.

The new points system -- which applies to all NASCAR national series -- will award points in one-point increments.
As an example, in the Cup Series, race winners will earn 43 points, plus three bonus points for the victory.
Winners also can earn an extra point for leading a lap and leading the most laps, bringing their total to a possible maximum of 48 points.

All other drivers in a finishing order will be separated by one-point increments.
A second-place finisher will earn 42 points, a third-place driver 41 points, and so on.
A last-place finisher -- 43rd place -- earns one point.

"Many of our most loyal fans don't fully understand the points system we have used to date," said France, referencing the system that has been in use since 1975.

Other competitive enhancements announced Wednesday:

Pick a Series -- Drivers in all three national series now must select the series where they'll compete for a drivers' championship.
Drivers still may compete in multiple series and help their teams win owners' titles in series where they're not competing for a drivers' title.
The move helps spotlight young talent in the Nationwide and Truck series.

New Qualifying Procedure -- The qualifying order will be set based upon slowest-to-fastest practice speeds.

Inclement Weather Qualifying -- If bad weather cancels qualifying, the final starting lineup will be determined by practice speeds.
The same rule book procedures will be used to determine eligibility to start a race.
If weather cancels practice sessions, then the starting lineup will be set by points, per the rule book.

Tire Rules Revision -- Cup teams now are allowed five sets of tires for practice and qualifying instead of six.
They must return four of those sets to Goodyear in order to receive their race allotment, and may keep one set of practice/qualifying tires.
Tire allotments for race weekends will vary according to historical performance data.

Closed Loop Fueling System -- Introduced in the Truck Series, this goes into effect for all three national series in 2011.
It combines a more efficient fueling system with the elimination of the catch-can man, considered the most "vulnerable" pit-crew member.
Teams now will use six, rather than seven, over-the-wall pit-crew members.

Evolution of Cup Car -- NASCAR continues to work with the manufacturers and teams to enhance the look of the Cup Series car.
The cars have new fronts this season and the body makeover will continue to help appeal to fans and aid manufacturer identity.


Which change for 2011 are you most excited about?
One title per series = 31 %
Qualifying procedures = 13 %
Simpler points = 29 %
Tires and Fuel = 3 %
Wild card to Chase = 24 %
Total Votes: 2791

http://www.nascar.com/news/110126/co...llo/index.html

Changes made with hardcore fans in mind
As times dictate trying something new, certain faction yearns for days of old



Competition changes

NASCAR has announced its changes for 2011, chief among them a simpler points system and a wild-card element to the Chase that rewards winning.

Competitive enhancements - Sound off: France, Helton

But for those fans who still cling tightly to yesterday, so important in a sport that holds up its history like a trophy, there's only one potential change that matters. And they shouldn't be expecting it anytime soon.

http://www.nascar.com/video/preview/...011/index.html



Junior says it's time for shorter races
France says some have been shortened; nothing drastic imminent.
Aversion to spotlight

It's like this huge, pink elephant that nobody wants to talk about. -- DALE EARNHARDT JR.

Times of last year's races
Track Miles* Time
Charlotte 600 4:08:20
Atlanta 500.5 3:59:59
Atlanta 500.5 3:52:43
Phoenix 375 3:48:14
Daytona 500 3:47:16
Pocono 500 3:46:51
Pocono 500 3:44:30
Martinsville 263 3:40:20
Martinsville 263 3:39:05
Charlotte 501 3:34:07
Texas 501 3:34:01
Talladega 500.1 3:31:58
Fontana 500 3:31:24
Texas 501 3:25:34
Bristol 266.5 3:20:50
Homestead 400.5 3:09:50
Dover 400 3:06:21
Daytona 400 3:03:28
Talladega 500.1 3:03:23
Dover 400 3:02:27
Fontana 400 3:01:53
Richmond 300 3:00:47
Loudon 317.4 2:58:22
Sonoma 218.9 2:56:38
Indianapolis 400 2:56:24
Kansas 400.5 2:54:02
Richmond 300 2:52:55
Las Vegas 400.5 2:49:53
Loudon 318.5 2:48:38
Chicago 400.5 2:45:34
Bristol 266.5 2:41:24
Michigan 400 2:33:28
Watkins Glen 220.5 2:23:52



Drive for Diversity reveals 2011 lineup
Ten chosen to compete for Revolution Racing in two regional series.
About D4D program

http://www.nascar.com/news/110126/dp...ein/index.html

Revamped RPM could make play for Danica
Partner Murstein would like to see a third car in the RPM stable come 2012

I'm already talking to other drivers and mentioning the names to Richard. He's accepting it but not jumping at it. He knows more than I do. -- ANDREW MURSTEIN

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http://www.nascar.com/news/110126/co...llo/index.html

A new era

The new rule changes came fast and furious Wednesday and on paper it all sounds great -- but time will tell if they actually work, writes David Caraviello.

More: Competition changes revealed | Video: Changes announced

http://www.nascar.com/video/preview/...011/index.html



http://www.nascar.com/news/110127/jg...ain/index.html

As competitive as ever

Don't think nearing 40 and starting a family has slowed Jeff Gordon. The four-time champion hasn't won a race since 2009 and he's ready to silence his critics.

Video: McMurray and Gordon on kids | Gordon: Driver Page | Shop: Gordon gear

Recent slump has Gordon's competitive fire raging
Four-time Cup champion is winless since '09 and looking for right combination



The differences between winning streaks and losing streaks sometimes hinge on the littlest things, Gordon said.

Gordon glanced across the room, where five-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was holding court.

Still, there is the rare time when he begins to doubt himself.

Sound Off: McMurray and Gordon talk about how having kids has changed their perspective

http://www.nascar.com/video/none/non...ids/index.html



Familiar faces return as Miss Sprint Cup
Duke, Palumbo back for another year and welcome Coon to team.
Ms. Sprint Cup crew



http://www.nascar.com/news/110127/20...cup/index.html

Monica Palumbo, Paige Duke and Kim Coon will become familiar faces at the race track and in Victory Lane.
Familiar faces return to '11 Miss Sprint Cup lineup
Duke and Palumbo return for another season, joined by newcomer Coon

http://community.nascar.com/sprint

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http://www.nascar.com/news/110203/ws...ity/index.html



A story of triumph in face of adversity

Wendell Scott's message takes place for the most part off the track.

Film details life

http://www.nascar.com/news/110128/we...ary/index.html

Walk a mile in Wendell Scott's shoes, that's all.

Feel what it was like to be a black man in the deepest parts of the Jim Crow South, trying to make a go of it in a white man's sport.



"When my turn came at the window, Bob Colvin looked up and said, 'N-----, you better get yo' ass back up that road,'"

Once, when a race in Raleigh, N.C., was rained out, every driver but Scott received $15 in tow money. At the very next event, Scott told NASCAR founder Bill France what had happened.

"He took not $15 but $25 out of his own pocket, handed it to me and said, 'You are a NASCAR member and as of now you will be treated as a NASCAR member,'"

"And I did. I loaned him $500 to go out there. I didn't have the money. I was living on borrowed money myself, but I just appreciated what he was trying to do." - Ned Jarrett

On yet another occasion, Jarrett spoke on Scott's behalf during a lunch with Lee Iacocca, at the time a Ford Motor Co. vice president.

"He asked me at lunch that day, 'Are there any black drivers in racing?' " Jarrett remembered. "I told him about Wendell. He said, 'How does he do?' I said, 'Well, he doesn't have the equipment to do as well as I think he could do. Some manufacturer is missing the boat by not helping that man out.' "

The next day, John Moody got a call to get a car ready for Scott. It wasn't the best car in the famed Holman Moody fleet, but it was better than anything Scott could manage on his own. For most of the rest of his career, Scott was behind the wheel of a Ford.

Scott passed away Dec. 23, 1990, after a long bout with spinal cancer. Right up to the very end, hearing of the hope Scott had given others meant the world to the Danville, Va., native.

He was, in fact, a father ... a husband ... a mechanic ... a racer. Most of all, though, he was a man.

Wendell Scott, the only black to win a race in NASCAR's top series.

Wendell Scott: A Race Story will air on ESPN on Feb. 20 at 9 p.m. ET, after the scheduled running of the 53rd annual Daytona 500.

Drive for Diversity is a NASCAR-led initiative aimed at developing and introducing minority and female drivers and crew members to competitive opportunities in the sport.

"Wendell Scott faced overwhelming challenges throughout his life and as a pioneer in his sport," said John Dahl, executive producer, ESPN Films. "The film captures his strong sense of determination and honor with a poignant look at his struggles as well as an examination of his legacy."

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http://www.nascar.com/news/110208/wh...w-4/index.html



RaceView 4.0's new features enhance experience

What is TrackPass?
http://www.nascar.com/news/110208/wh...ass/index.html

Why RaceView 4.0?
http://www.nascar.com/news/110208/wh...w-4/index.html

If the current version of RaceView is like watching a race unfold on a wide-screen monitor, RaceView 4.0's eye-catching graphics and presentation will be like upgrading to high definition.

Joshua Silverboard, product manager at NASCAR.COM, said in addition to amazing clarity and detail of the all-new virtual video window -- which includes the gradual darkening of the sky during night races -- the newest version of RaceView will give subscribers new data modules, skin choices and a reorganization of the information to make the viewing experience unique.

"With the last version of RaceView, we were looking to capture some low-hanging fruit to improve the most popular features for our subscribers," Silverboard said. "The new version of RaceView for 2011 is a wholesale update designed to make the application better, faster, stronger and to empower subscribers to watch their drivers' and the entire race the way they want.

"We wanted to give subscribers a fresher look, with enhanced virtual video, different layouts, custom skins and new live data features. We also wanted to get on a framework that we could use to grow the product, not just for this release, but going forward for years."

Silverboard said RaceView 4.0 has been designed to support all current editions of Safari, Firefox and Internet Explorer. In addition, the application will now run in Adobe Flash Player.

"It pops up in its own browser window, as it does today," Silverboard said. "The advanced virtual video window is going to be Unity, and we're going to continue to use Octoshape for race replays and DVR stuff."

One of the key changes is a timeline feature, allowing the subscriber to quickly find key moments in the race. In addition, subscribers will be able to customize their viewing experience by picking a skin template based on team color combinations, such as those of Tony Stewart or Jimmie Johnson.

"They're all driver inspired," Silverboard said. "So for instance, Stewart's will probably have a smoky look, while Johnson's will be more of a blue."

And best of all, the application should launch more quickly.

"It should be faster," Silverboard said. "We're looking to minimize the overhead for loading so that it's better. We're also looking, by the end of the year, to make this more compatible with older operating systems. We'll be continuing to work throughout the year to improve its performance for our subscribers."

With the new RaceView 4.0, NASCAR.COM has incorporated the best features into one powerful, state-of-the-art application that's bound to wow even the most discriminating race fan. And its ease of use has never been more simple.

"We're also changing our landing pages," Silverboard said. "Right now, when subscribers go to TrackPass, they get the sales page. When they're logged in, now they'll get a page geared towards helping them use the application.

"So they'll get the current race schedule with the easy links to launch, they'll get some relevant news from around the site related to drivers, fantasy and community. And then they'll have their replay calendar for RaceView subscribers down below."

And what they'll see when they launch RaceView 4.0 is something to behold. An all-new advanced virtual video window that makes you feel like you're sitting inches from the track; easier to read graphics and news and information right at your fingertips; and best of all, it's customizable.

"We'll have different layouts in this version," Silverboard said. "So you'll be able to go into your preferences and select one of three layouts. You'll have the default, a head-to-head feature which is new -- you'll be able to compare telemetry with up to three other drivers -- and we're also bringing back the full-screen view."

In addition, Silverboard said RaceView 4.0 will make it easier to follow the action, with "at a glance" features like the number of cars on the lead lap, biggest mover of the day, and the top speed of the race.

At the same time, all the features you've come to expect from RaceView will still be easily accessible, like selectable in-car audio, so you can follow your favorite driver, the entire field, NASCAR's official communications or even the race broadcast while you watch the action unfold.

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http://www.nascar.com/news/110209/in...-10/index.html

Everlasting Earnhardt

A decade has now passed since that dark day at Daytona, and commemorations of Dale Earnhardt have morphed from grief into respectful remembrance. David Caraviello looks at how Earnhardt's legacy has impacted the sport.

More: What might have been had Earnhardt lived | Special: A look back ...

http://www.nascar.com/news/110209/de...-10/index.html

http://www.nascar.com/dale-earnhardt/



Competitors recall events of fateful day
Rick Houston tells the story of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18, 2001.
Three drivers reflect



Ten years later, a sign of respect
Joe Menzer looks at how Earnhardt's popularity evident in sales.



Ten years later, icon's legacy continues to endure in the sport he left behind









What might have been
Five circumstances that might be different had Earnhardt lived

DEI might still be a force

Dale Jr.

JR Motorsports might be different

Kelley

RCR might have thrived more

Childress

Michael Waltrip Racing might not exist

Waltrip

Safety improvements in sport

HANS device

Kelley Earnhardt said she is very comfortable with that part of her father's lasting legacy.

'Like it just happened yesterday'
Earnhardt competitors recall chain of events that changed NASCAR forever

Dale ... he didn't seem very comfortable at that moment. I don't know why. I guess we've all got a few butterflies getting ready to start that race, because we know what can happen. -- WARD BURTON

We came off Turn 2, and I thought, 'We've got a chance to run third,' and then all hell broke loose. -- KEN SCHRADER

The broadcaster
The pole-sitter
The Big One
The Finish

As Schrader discusses it, he pulls up a YouTube clip of the accident.
The world NASCAR once knew had ended.

Reflections
Elliott, Burton, Labonte remember NASCAR's dark day, share thoughts on life

Look close, and it's almost possible to see the steam coming out of Bill Elliott's ears in the moments following the 1987 edition of The Winston at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

That's just how angry he was with Dale Earnhardt. The superstar drivers had pounded the daylights out of each other in the race, with Earnhardt eventually making the famed, if incorrectly named, Pass in the Grass. Earnhardt's maneuver had not been to take the lead; rather, it was to keep it out of the hands of a now incredibly riled Elliott.

Dale Earnhardt - 3 - A Look Back

In many ways, this was the race that sealed forever Earnhardt's reputation as One Tough Customer, the Intimidator, or a mean-spirited S.O.B., take your pick. Not that any of it mattered at the time to Awesome Bill From Dawsonville, whose post-race interview was a study in fury. Lord, he was mad, and then some. It cut Elliott deep that Earnhardt was celebrating just over there, in the Victory Lane that could've been his.

They'd run many a lap against each other before The Winston in 1987, and there were many more to come afterward. A certain rivalry remained in place, if for no other reason than Elliott was the consummate Ford driver pitted against Earnhardt, the standard-bearer for Chevrolet.

A philosophical response

"My God, I still feel safer on a race track than I do driving down the interstate or a two-lane highway," Elliott said. "The only thing that gives you comfort in anything we do is that when it's your time, it's your time, whether I'm driving a race car, laying in bed asleep at night or if I fall off my back porch."

The roadside breakdown

Ward Burton got the heck out of Dodge, literally and figuratively.

After leading the most laps in the 2001 Daytona 500, Burton was involved in a huge, late-race, multi-car crash on the backstretch. The day done for his Bill Davis Racing Dodge, Burton left Daytona behind. He did not learn of Earnhardt's accident until after he and wife, Tabitha, landed at a small airfield in Roxboro, N.C.

Both had cars at the airport, so they separately began the trek home to South Boston, Va. In the February darkness, Burton followed his wife to the side of the road when he noticed her pulling over. It was then and there that Burton learned that a legendary life had ended.

"She heard on the radio that Dale had been pronounced dead," Burton said. "When I got to the car, she was sobbing. The reason she was so upset was, one, for the loss of Dale and what his family was going through; but, also, she knew that could've been me just as easy."

The defending champ

There wasn't much left for Bobby Labonte to do, not after his run in the 2001 Daytona 500 was ended in the same mishap as Burton.

Just leave this one behind and forget about it. Head to the airport, go home and get ready for Rockingham. In a perfect world, that's exactly what Labonte would have done. But sitting in his airplane on the Daytona tarmac, just behind the track's backstretch, Labonte got a phone call. Earnhardt had been involved in a bad wreck on the last lap.

It didn't look good.

'Still cool'
Ten years later, wearing 3 gear a sign of respect for a driver who earned it

Dale Earnhardt hasn't been behind the wheel of his iconic No. 3 Chevrolet for nearly a decade now, but he still ranks among the annual leaders in merchandise purchased by NASCAR fans.

According to figures supplied by the NASCAR.COM Superstore, which were available from 2003 through 2010, Earnhardt never ranked lower than ninth among all drivers active and retired. He was in the top six in five of those eight years, and seventh in two of the other three.

"Dale Earnhardt, No. 3. You wear gear that has that on it, and that says you know racing and you know what the sport is all about," said Joe Mattes, vice president of licensing for JR Motorsports.

Mattes said the rank and sales figures for Earnhardt within the Superstore are reflective of the NASCAR merchandising landscape as a whole. In other words, Earnhardt still sells.

"It's just a testimonial to the individual he was, and the appreciation his fans had for how he brought his pick and shovel to the sport," Mattes said. "He was what the true fan represented, and it still resonates with them. It's just a true testament to his legacy.

"You could say that 10 years later, being a Dale Earnhardt fan is still cool. When you think about it, you have other drivers who come and go -- and they're still respected -- but it's nothing like this. I mean, people still respect Darrell [Waltrip] and the Allisons and the Pearsons and all the way through. The heritage is there, but this is different."

This is different, in one very notable way, because Earnhardt died in a last-lap wreck during the 2001 Daytona 500. And yet in 2010, the seven-time Cup champion ranked seventh among all drivers -- including active ones -- in merchandise sales.

Michael Waltrip, who won that 2001 Daytona 500, said for one that he is not the least bit surprised.

Mattes added that Earnhardt's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame last year likely gave his brand an additional boost. Indeed, after having slipped to No. 9 on the list of merchandise sold in 2009, Earnhardt moved up two spots in 2010.

"I think the Hall of Fame is perfect for that -- for Dale and for others," Mattes said. "It's a place where you can go now and think back and say, 'Yeah, he was awesome.' It's a good time to reflect about it. And it will spur that passion and that will spur sales.

"Because you'll be walking out of the Hall and you'll be thinking about Dale and you'll think, 'Man, I remember when I had a 3 hat.' And you'll be walking out that door and you'll think, 'Hey, they've got a gift shop. Why not go and get another one? Not a bad idea.' So I think it does help a lot."

Mattes admitted that there will come a time when Earnhardt gear doesn't sell as well. But he isn't sure when that time will come.

"In due time, everything wanes," Mattes said. "But 10 years later, we're sitting here talking about this. And it's still cool to wear 3 gear? I mean, that's unbelievable. It's the ultimate authenticator to being a true NASCAR fan."



By the Numbers
Dale Earnhardt merchandise sales figures

3 Times Earnhardt merchandise sales topped $1 million in a year: 2003, 2004 and 2006.

3 Earnhardt's NASCAR Hall of Fame items among the top sellers: Hat (360 units sold) in 2009, and Flashcoat Silver die-cast (636) and twill jacket (341) in 2010.

3 Items from the Earnhart and Elvis collection (die-cast, jacket and T-shirt) that made up three of the top five top-selling Earnhardt units in 2009.

5 Earnhardt items to surpass $100,000 in total sales, the highest grossing the Winston Cup Series Victory Lap Monte Carlo die-cast in 2003 ($221,895.46).

9 Earnhardt items that have sold 1,000 or more units, the best selling the Earnhardt's International Motorsports Hall of Fame T-shirt (4,965).

10 Different types of Earnhardt die-casts that have been among the top sellers. They have accounted for more than &17,000 in total units sold.

13 Different types of Earnhardt jackets that have been among the top sellers. They have accounted for nearly 2,500 units sold, including more than 1,000 in uniform style.

37 Number of Earnhardt 3-way recliners sold in 2006, the fifth best seller of that year.

1,770 Total units of Earnhardt's 10th anniversary Daytona 500 victory No. 3 die-cast in 2008. Die-casts accounted for the top three sellers that year, including the Man in Black collectible featuring Johnny Cash (1,075) and Dale and the Duke featuring Johny Wayne (789).

2,103 Units sold of the Dale Earnhardt father and son Wrangler No. 3 gold set of two die-cast (1:64) in 2010, the best selling item since 2006. It's the fourth-best seller overall, ranking behind the Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 3 Earnhardt Tribute Concert Monte Carlo die-cast in 2003 (3,582).

* Information reflects NASCAR.COM Superstore sales since 2003. Click here to order your Dale Earnhardt gear!
http://store.nascar.com/category/ind...546&cp=1736852