Chris DiCicco asked:


NASCAR is a competition and has its own set of championship series just as the World Series in Major League Baseball or the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the National Hockey League. Probably the most famous NASCAR championship series is the Sprint Cup Series. Note that the Cup Series will become the Sprint Cup Series because of the merger of the Sprint Corporation and NEXTEL Communications.

The history of the Sprint Cup Series began as the Strictly Stock Series in 1949, the Grand National Series between 1950 and 1971, and the Winston Cup Series between 1972 and 2003. Innovators of the Sprint Cup Series have made it so that drivers can score more points and even get 5 bonus points any time they take the lead for even one lap. And the lowest spot in the race result gets at least 34 points.
This model results in much more competition to the very end plus makes NASCAR more competitive with the National Football League in numbers of television viewers watching the racing sport. The series has also consists of a competitive series in the last 10 races known as The Chase. This is where the top drivers are selected based on accumulated points (those tied for a position too) after 26 races. There are many winners in this series. The champion gets 5 million and the others finishing in the top 10 positions each get 1 million. There is even something for the 11th place driver a 250,000 bonus. All this is designed to keep competition and excitement at a high level throughout the season.

Craftsman Truck Series is another one of the NASCAR championships with racing trucks designed from modified pickup trucks. The season runs from February through November. The beginning race is the Chevy Silverado HD 250 run at the Daytona International Speedway. The trucks run without restrictor plates to limit max speed like the NASCAR Sprint and Nationwide Series however because trucks are not as aerodynamic, they cannot reach the speeds the cars do.

The Busch Series is another of the championships and it is equivalent to the minor leagues of NASCAR racing. However, unless you are an expert, you cannot easily spot the differences between Nationwide Series competition and Sprint competition. The difference is in the cars. The cars of the Nationwide Series have a shorter wheel base 105 inches as opposed to 100 inches and the spoiler is larger too. At the end of the 2007 season, Busch has announced that it will no longer sponsor the Busch Series and now other sponsors like Wal Mart and Subway Sandwiches were trying to win a spot as the events primary promoter. Nationwide is what it will officially be called.

And then there is the championship among the auto makers known as the NASCAR Manufacturers Championship. This championship has been held ever since 1949 and it works by points being awarded to the different automobile manufacturers represented in each race. The auto manufacturer at the end of the season with the most points wins. Chevrolet won this NASCAR championship in 2006.



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Jeremy Dunn asked:


Many Nascar fans recall the years of the field fillers. In the early 2000’s, it was not uncommon for low-budget, fourth-tier teams to show up at the track hoping just to start the race and collect a paycheck before heading home. In 2004, the field filler era arrived at its peak, as the start and park routine became excessively recurrent. It seemed as if NASCAR was dead set on having a forty-three car field each and every race despite the fact that there were only 36 or 37 truly competitive teams.You may remember the names Andy Belmont, Andy Hillenburg, Hermie Sadler, Joe Ruttman, Carl Long, Stanton Barrett, Kirk Shelmerdine, and Morgan Shepherd. They were some of the so-called field fillers. It was not uncommon for those drivers to be several seconds off the pace in comparison to the leaders. At times, their dawdling pace frustrated the leaders.

At the time, some mid-level NASCAR teams did not realize how good they had it. There was only a diminutive chance that they could miss the race in qualifying. Eventually, the NASCAR field began to expand, and with the advent of Toyota as well as aspiring team owners, many new teams surfaced. By 2007, it became increasingly difficult for several mid-level teams, and even top notch teams to qualify for the show. It was common to have over fifty drivers and teams attempting to qualify. Drivers such as Jeremy Mayfield, Brian Vickers, Michael Waltrip, and even 1999 champion Dale Jarrett were occasionally forced to go home early. At times, it was rather chaotic. The field filler era was no more, and it was now the go or go home era.In 2008, the amount of qualifying entries began to tail off. Several teams began to cutback, while others folded completely. Chip Ganassi Racing was a prime example, as the 40 team closed up shop in July after eleven years on the track. The entry list was, for the most part, back in the forty-something instead of fifty-plus.

Following the 2008 season, the off-season was anything but, and it became merger-mania. Due to sponsorship woes, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated was set to close down at least two teams. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates was faced with a similar quandary. Officials from both organizations began to discuss the prospect of a merger. Ultimately, the two teams became one, hence the name Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Heading into the 2008 Sprint Cupcampaign, there were seven teams between the two organizations. Following the merger, there is likely to be only three teams from the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing camp competing on a full-time basis. Four teams from 2008 are no longer in existence.Gillett Evernham Motorsports was a three-car operation in 2008, while Petty Enterprises encompassed two teams. When the two entities merged into one, Richard Petty Motorsports, or RPM, it is now a three-car operation, with a fourth team competing on a part-time basis.

Hall of Fame Racing amalgamated its resources with Yates Racing, another fledgling Sprint Cup operation. They brought along the sponsor Ask.com as well as 2000 champion Bobby Labonte. While it has become a blessing for Doug Yates and Max Jones, it spelled disaster for David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil, the two drivers that carried the Yates Racing banner in 2008. Gilliland and the 38 team are no more, and Kvapil’s team will unlikely compete in the entire slate of races.Bill Davis Racing sold out and the 22 car is unlikely to attempt many races in 2009, if any at all.Due to the dwindling number of full-time entries at the Sprint Cup level, opportunity is there again for the smalltime teams. In fact, a couple of new teams will attempt the NASCAR schedule. Joe Nemechek, unable to land a Sprint Cup ride, will revive NEMCO Racing and attempt the full Sprint Cup schedule, as well as the Nationwide Series. Former crew chief Tommy Baldwin will begin his new venture as a car owner with Scott Riggs as the driver. Jeremy Mayfield is reportedly set to attempt the driver slash owner undertaking with the opening of Mayfield Motorsports. Other teams such as Phoenix Racing, one of the teams prominently known for starting and parking in 2004, will endeavor to compete in all 36 Sprint Cup events with an assortment of drivers and manufacturers.

They say that everything in NASCAR is cyclical. In a matter of five years, it appears as if the field filler era is returning to NASCAR Sprint Cup racing and the go or go home era is over, at least for now.



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Jeremy Dunn asked:


The 2008 NASCAR Racing Sprint Cup season was dominated by a small circle of teams that have ingeniously advanced their entire programs over the past four or five years. Most NASCAR fans will agree the Roush Fenway Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Joe Gibbs Racing are at the zenith of the sport when it comes to on-track performance and achievements. Take a glimpse at the driver roster for each of the above mentioned teams. Roush Fenway Racing boasts a blend of talented personalities in Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, David Ragan, and Jamie McMurray. Hendrick Motorsports owns perhaps the most star-studded lineup in NASCAR history with Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Mark Martin. Richard Childress Racing possesses perhaps the most consistent trio of drivers with Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, and Clint Bowyer. He added former Hendrick Motorsports driver Casey Mears to his driver roster for the 2009 season. Joe Gibbs Racing has the youthful vigor of Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and rookie Joey Logano, with their ages ranging from 18 to 28. Logano replaces the two-time champion Tony Stewart. In 2006, the four teams made up eight of the ten drivers in the Chase for the Championship. In 2007, they occupied ten of the twelve slots in the ten-race championship chase. In 2008, the entire Chase for the Championship field was drivers and teams from the ‘big four’. Clearly, it is no surprise that other teams may tremble at the thought of having to compete with these juggernauts. However, there are a few teams out there with drivers and personnel capable of giving the big four a run for their money.

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates were separate entities prior to the merger in November of 2008. Remember the Coors Light Dodge battling the Budweiser Chevrolet in the early 2000’s? Now they are one operation, combining their resources with the intention of competing at a higher level. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has their share of critics, but they have two talented drivers with solid sponsors. Martin Truex Jr qualified for the Chase for the Championship in 2007 after winning his first race at Dover. Truex Jr quickly became a popular driver with his laidback outdoorsmen demeanor. Juan Pablo Montoya is not one of the more popular drivers in the Sprint Cup garage, but no one can say that he is not talented. Montoya and Truex Jr are both capable of winning a race in 2009 with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing equipment. In fact, the organization is practically depending on it. Aric Almirola is expected to compete in all thirty-six races in 2009 in the No. 8 car. Stewart Haas Racing: Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman are significant upgrades from Johnny Sauter and Scott Riggs, but how will they stack up against the big four? Stewart Haas Racing will use engines and chassis supplied by Hendrick Motorsports, but they are no Hendrick Motorsports, at least not yet. In due course, this team will flourish with Stewart and Newman as the drivers. Stewart is a two-time champion and Newman is a Daytona 500 champion so they do not lack credentials. Stewart and Newman winning a race in 2009 is not that far-fetched, especially on the restrictor plate tracks as well as the road courses. It would come as a surprise if they are fast enough to contend at the 1.5-mile and 2-mile tracks.

Richard Petty Motorsports: Like Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports is fresh off a merger and name change. Formerly Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises, they are now one team with four drivers. Kasey Kahne is the star, the driver that will likely produce the best results. Elliott Sadler is the veteran who has struggled in recent years, but hopes to turn the corner. Reed Sorenson and A.J. Allmendinger are hungry young drivers itching to earn a trip to victory lane. Kahne provides the only real threat to the big four. Allmendinger may emerge as a pleasant surprise if he has the opportunity to compete in the full slate of races. Penske Racing: Kurt Busch is the only driver in Penske Racing’s three-team shop that can really threaten the big four. Busch qualified for the Chase for the Championship in 2007 after winning two races. Ryan Newman won thirteen races in Penske Racing equipment, but bolted after three sub par seasons. David Stremme replaces Newman, but you get the feeling that Penske settled for his test driver. Sam Hornish Jr is comparable to Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson when he is driving in the Indy Racing League, but his results in NASCAR Racing have been downright awful. Hornish may begin to show signs of potential in 2009.

Yates Racing: Yates Racing has made some bold moves this off-season. After forming an alliance with Hall of Fame Racing, they were able to use the Ask.com sponsorship to lure 2000 champion Bobby Labonte to their neck of the woods. Labonte joins Paul Menard and Travis Kvapil. Menard and his sponsor, Menard’s, fled Dale Earnhardt Inc, joined Yates Racing, meaning that the team has two fully sponsored cars. Travis Kvapil may not compete in all races unless sponsorship is found. Labonte may contend on the restrictor plate tracks, and possibly the short tracks. Menard still has a lot to prove in NASCAR’s highest level of competition. Red Bull Racing: Red Bull Racing has a couple of young drivers that will put it all on the line. Brian Vickers owns a Sprint Cup victory and had shown considerable progress in his two years at Red Bull Racing. Scott Speed is a rookie, and it may take a few banged up race cars before he fully catches on to this NASCAR Racing thing. Michael Waltrip Racing: David Reutimann is Michael Waltrip Racing’s strongest driver based on his result over the 2008 season. He ended the season on a high note with solid performances at Texas and Homestead. Michael Waltrip has yet to show any signs of contending in his own equipment. Marcos Ambrose will be a contender on the road course tracks, but he may struggle on the ovals.



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Alex Ray asked:


1. Atlanta 1996. Men’s 100-meter Olympic final.

It was the most exciting 10 seconds in sports history. The fastest sprinter of that time Donovan Bailey was the last one who left the blocks at the track of overcrowded stadium in Atlanta. And nobody in the world had time to understand that he could simply lose the main race of his life, because during the next ten seconds everybody’s eyes were chained to the Olympic track, where the fastest man ever was showing a magnificent blend of explosive power and awesome athleticism.

Donovan Bailey crossed the finish line first to win 100-metre final in 9.84 seconds. It was not just the new world record, this record was set in Olympic final by the man who had the worst start among all finalists. Step by step he passed other sprinters and by finish line he leaved them all behind. If you have never seen this race, than just go to video section at www.sprintic.com and do it now.

2. Atlanta 1996. Men’s 200-meter Olympic final.

Michael Johnson not just broke the 200-meter world record, he shattered it, leaving other competitors many steps behind by finish line. Even today his time of 19.32 seconds seems fantastic. But it’s not only about the time, it is also about the look on Michael’s face when he saw it was 19.32. And every time people see the photo of that moment they can feel his passion.

3. Seoul 1988. Men’s 100-meter Olympic final.

Canadian Ben Johnson recorded a new world best of 9.79 secs and he stormed away from his arch-rival Carl Lewis. However, three days later it was revealed that Johnson had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and was disqualified.

4. Seville 1999. Men’s 400-meter world record.

In retaining the world title in a time of 43.18 seconds Michael Johnson redefined the parameters of the one-lap event.

With the staggered start, it took a while for his performance to become apparent. But, running in his trademark hand-made golden spikes, he sailed off the top bend, leaving his rivals metres adrift.

For once, he pushed himself all the way to the line, roared on by a capacity crowd of 50,000 who gasped in astonishment when the time came up on the electronic scoreboard.

5. Indianapolis 1988. Women’s 100-meter world record.

Florence Griffith-Joyner stunned the world when – known as a 200 m runner – she ran a new 100 m World Record of 10.49 in the quarter-finals of the US Olympic Trials. This record stands unchallenged to this day, and it will surprise no one if it remains in the books for another 20 years.

6. Seoul 1988. Women’s 200-meter Olympic final.

Florence Griffith-Joyner set world record for 200 meters. Nobody could beat her time of 21.34 since then.

7. Athens 1999. Maurice Greene breaks the world record in 100 meters.

In 1999 Maurice Greene set new 100-meter world record of 9.79 seconds, beating Donovan Bailey’s standing world record of 9.84, and lowering it by the largest margin since the advent of electronic timing. Also he proved that man could run 100-meter dash under 9.80 seconds without taking drugs.

8. Canberra 1985. Women’s 400-meter world record.

During her career Marita Koch collected a remarkable 16 world records in outdoor sprints, as well as 14 world records in indoor events. On Otober 6, 1985 she set the current 400-meter world record of 47.60 seconds. 20 years ago from now nobody among the best female athletes could even think about such result.

9. Athens 2005. Men’s 100-meter world record.

Asafa Powell set a world record in the men’s 100 meters, clocking 9.77 seconds at the Tsiklitiria Super Grand Prix meeting. So far it was the fastest time ever.

10. Barcelona 1992. Men’s 4x100m relay world record.

Mike Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Dennis Mitchell, Carl Lewis. Exactly in this order the fastest American athletes were running their laps at Olympic stadium in Barcelona. The American team completed the race in 37.40. This record still stands today.



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Low Jeremy asked:


“Whoever finishes first will be called the Iron Man”, is the tag line that has revolved around the competition that produced the survivors of the game for the fittest.

Iron Man Triathlon is simply a game for the bold. It takes tons of courage, will power and endurance to start the race and make it to the finish line. In fact, the very first Iron Man triathlon competition held in 1978 was completed within 13 minutes before the day’s half ends.

Over the years, Iron Man triathlon has become a pool of multisport events that cover sports like running, cycling, swimming and sometimes, skiing. These have varying distances of multiple combinations of course sequences. However, the original event is still embodied in the Kona events that actually call the winners as Iron Men.

The Hawaii still holds the World Championship for Iron man Triathlon though the governing body hosts other competitions around the world that also provide the title of Iron Man for the winners. Nevertheless, the title is owned by the World Triathlon Corporation. Other multi-sports competitions unofficially call the events as Iron Man triathlon, only hidden under the terms such as Half-Iron man, or Iron Distance.

The Iron Man Triathlon held annually in the Kona Bay is an annual amount that is hailed to be the most popular of all triathlons. Following the standard of the triathlon, this event starts with swimmers crossing the bay of the Big Island which takes 2.4 miles of swimming, afterwhich the 112 mile biking and another 26.2 miles of coast marathon.

While the competition is held in Hawaii, qualifying events are held in various countries such as Canada, Australia, Canary Island, Japan, USA, Europe and South Africa. While many people might be mistaken with calling all similar competitions as Iron Man Triathlon, it is still good to note that this practice is technically incorrect. Iron Man races are supposed to be not used as a generic term for a number of multisport events.

This competition had its debut during the awarding ceremony for the Oahu Perimeter Relay, which then was a running competition that included teams, composed of 5 members. Incidentally, the competitors in the said event were runners and swimmers who for sometime, had been debating on who stand as fittest. In the said ceremony also, Commander John Collins noted that a Belgian cyclist holds the title for the highest oxygen uptake which eventually lead to the conclusion that cyclists probably are the fittest.

Sprint triathlon, like those of Iron Man or half-Iron competitions are composed of three disciplined events namely, swimming, biking and running. Sprint, being a smaller scale as compared with other variations may not require you the same endurance other types have but still it requires some great will power. In usual cases, sprint triathlon takes off half the original distance Olympic standards have.

Sprint triathlon only takes 750 meters of swim (considerably short for a triathlon race), a biking distance of 20 km and a run of 5 km. Not much of a suffering right? But it is for the beginners. Olympic distance, on the other hand, has standard of 1.5 km of swimming, 40 km of biking and 10 km run for the last leg.

Iron Man Triathlon, which seem to have the primary aim of testing the limits of the physical body and the mental endurance of a racer requires one to finish 3.8 km of swim, 180 km for the bike lap and a run to hell of 42 km. Once you embark on a sprint triathlon competition, the first thing you need to do is to condition your body for the grand day ahead. This can only be acquired through proper training, which normally lasts for not less than 13 weeks.

Set an achievable goal first. That would be better since you can work on it. Set your hopes high but do not go beyond plans that you believe would not work. Now that you have a specific point to get to, schedule your training program and start working on it. Assure to it that your plan will always be in accordance with the specific events that you are about to join. Do not just swim meters by meters. Or ride the bike for as long as you want. Or run miles on end. See to it that in each session, there is a specific aim that you are working with, say endurance or speed.



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Stephen Lars asked:


One more time Jimmie Johnson demonstrated his capacity as pilot by leading amazingly 217 of the 313 laps of the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR). After obtaining the pole on Saturday’s practice session, Johnson kept himself on first position during most of the competition, taking a vast advantage on distance and time from the rest of the competitors.

With this new victory and just a race away from the finale of the season, Jimmie lifted his punctuation being 141 points above Carl Edwards, which puts him closer and closer from the precious title of the Sprint Series Championship. If he wins the title it would be his third time consecutive as champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup, historic fact only achieved until today by Cale Yarborough. For Johnson this has been the seventh triumph of 2008, the fortieth of his career and of those the third occasion to win in PIR.

On this exciting competition Edwards, winner of the previous date, couldn’t stand out on his performance, because on the last classification he could only caught the 15th position for the start of the Auto Parts 500. However, due to a series of passes through the pits stop, he finished the race on the fourth spot, something that in points distances him more from the indisputable leader Johnson. In spite it, Edwards is the only pilot that still has a chance to reach Johnson on the final board.

For this event Johnson and his team of mechanics, lead by Chad Knaus, made a great effort to leave the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the best conditions to compete. They did an excellent job revising every fundamental aspect of the automobile from the basics to the smallest details that could be enhanced, which allowed Jim to perfectly control the car and take it to its maximum. This triumph was worth it as well for Chevrolet, who’s now about to gain its 32nd Constructors Championship.

The race was a total emotions rollercoaster that lasted more than the established as a result of several yellow and red flags waved during big part of the challenge. The first delay came on the 43rd lap as precaution for the weather conditions that were making impossible the development of the contest and it was kept for 26 minutes. The red flag was also shown at the middle of the 273 lap, but this time the reason was an accident that started with Casey Mears and Juan Pablo Montoya, but it ended up affecting six more pilots, some even had to be transfer to be checked.

When the competition was continued after the interruption, thanks to the amount of races leaded by then, Johnson was carrying 5 points in advance from the other contenders, lead that kept until the end of the battle (95 laps) without much threat.

Homestead-Miami Speedway will be the point for the last competition to close the season 2008 and it looks like obtaining this priceless up won’t be a difficult job for Jimmie Johnson, who comes leading the general position table with a total of 65161 points. Following is Carl Edwards with 6420 points and with a last and low opportunity of passing over Johnson, who by simply arriving to the winning post in the 36th position as minimum would crown himself automatically as the new three-times Champion of the Sprint Cup.



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