Edwards, Biffle sweep Daytona front row for RFR
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Carl Edwards had an inkling he might have a pole-winning car at Daytona International Speedway.
With a lap at 194.738 mph (46.216 seconds) Edwards outran Greg Biffle (194.087 mph) for the top spot in Sunday's Daytona 500 qualifying session, as the Roush Fenway Racing teammates locked themselves into the front row for next Sunday's 54th running of the Great American Race. Edwards, the fifth driver to make a qualifying attempt, won the 11th Coors Light pole award of his career and is the first qualifier for the 2013 Budweiser Shootout, now that NASCAR and the speedway have returned to the traditional eligibility criteria for the season-opening exhibition event. |
Rule change for 2013 Budweiser shootout
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The Budweiser Shootout will return to its original eligibility rules of pole winners and former Shootout winners qualifying for the event in 2013, NASCAR announced Sunday.
Next season's field will consist of 2012 pole winners and past Shootout winners who attempted to qualify for at least one race during the 2012 season. These are the rules NASCAR had for the Shootout from 1979 through 2008. "Fans have expressed their desire to see this event return to its original eligibility rules," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. "We listened and decided it would be best to return to the eligibility rules of years past adding further meaning to pole qualifying for each Sprint Cup race." Sunday's pole winner at Daytona will earn a spot in next season's Shootout. Kyle Busch earned a spot by winning the Shootout last night with a dramatic last-lap pass on Tony Stewart in the closest finish (.013 seconds) in the history of the event. Last season's 36-race schedule had 18 different pole winners. |
NASCAR considering minor engine changes ?
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR will consider minor adjustments to reduce the possibility of engines overheating prior to the Daytona 500.
But otherwise officials were pleased with the results of Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout, the first race since implementing changes to reduce tandem racing.
Vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said before Sunday's qualifying for the 500 that complaints from teams about overheating were "moderate'' at best.
He said changes could come in the form of opening up the front grill slightly to allow more air flow or adjusting the pressure release valve.
Winner Kyle Busch said his engine temperature was around 300 degrees on the final lap and a half that he pushed Tony Stewart before sling-shotting to a 0.013 second win, the closest finish in the history of the event.
Pemberton said NASCAR will re-evaluate later in the week with temperatures expected to be much warmer during Thursday's qualifying races and Sunday's 500 than it was during the Shootout held at night.
"We said all along there was potential to make adjustments,'' Pemberton said.
Pemberton said there are no plans to tell drivers they cannot bump draft in the corners or make adjustments in the spoiler height to provide more stability. There were three major wrecks of eight, six and nine cars in the Shootout.
"The drivers know they can't push on the left rear end,'' Pemberton said. "They have to get acclimated.''
Pemberton said he was pleased that for the most part the two-car tandem was replaced with more old-school pack racing.
"Lots of hard work went into this by a lot of people,'' he said of all the changes NASCAR made to reduce the two-car dancing. "Hundreds and hundreds of hours went into it.''
But otherwise officials were pleased with the results of Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout, the first race since implementing changes to reduce tandem racing.
Vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said before Sunday's qualifying for the 500 that complaints from teams about overheating were "moderate'' at best.
He said changes could come in the form of opening up the front grill slightly to allow more air flow or adjusting the pressure release valve.
Winner Kyle Busch said his engine temperature was around 300 degrees on the final lap and a half that he pushed Tony Stewart before sling-shotting to a 0.013 second win, the closest finish in the history of the event.
Pemberton said NASCAR will re-evaluate later in the week with temperatures expected to be much warmer during Thursday's qualifying races and Sunday's 500 than it was during the Shootout held at night.
"We said all along there was potential to make adjustments,'' Pemberton said.
Pemberton said there are no plans to tell drivers they cannot bump draft in the corners or make adjustments in the spoiler height to provide more stability. There were three major wrecks of eight, six and nine cars in the Shootout.
"The drivers know they can't push on the left rear end,'' Pemberton said. "They have to get acclimated.''
Pemberton said he was pleased that for the most part the two-car tandem was replaced with more old-school pack racing.
"Lots of hard work went into this by a lot of people,'' he said of all the changes NASCAR made to reduce the two-car dancing. "Hundreds and hundreds of hours went into it.''
Penguins re-sign Neal for six years, $30 million
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- James Neal's first full year with the Pittsburgh Penguins keeps getting better. And now the high-scoring forward will be around for another six seasons after signing $30 million contract extension on Sunday.
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Flyers trade for Lightning defenseman Kubina
The Tampa Bay Lightning have traded defenseman Pavel Kubina to the Philadelphia Flyersfor a pair of draft picks and a minor league player.
The Flyers traded a conditional second round pick they had originally acquired from Floridain a trade for Kris Versteeg, and also a fourth-rounder in 2013 to land the veteran defenseman. |