Iħjut Kenseths Dawwar: iva, Gibbs għandha sparatura tajba fuq rebbieħa, kampjonat

Ġie mħabbar f ' Daytona li Michael Waltrip isuq Swan Racing Toyota fil-Daytona 500 biex tqajjem kuxjenza u appoġġ għal Newtown, Conn. u l-iskola elementari tal-GAN ċ ramlija.

IL-BAJJA TA ' DAYTONA, FQS. – Ftit ġimgħat ilu, is-sewwieqa Denny Hamlin u Kyle Busch gushed dwar kif eċċitati kienu b ' bidla fit-tim tat-tlielaq ta ' Joe Gibbs tagħhom.
Iż-żieda ta ' matt Kenseth għall-ista ġun 2013 NASCAR Sprint se żżid il-profondità u l-esperjenza fit-tim u, possibilment, jagħmilha contender aktar b ' saħħitha tal-kampjonat.
It-tnejn li huma qalu l-kampjonat ta ' Kenseth (huwa rebaħ it-titlu tat-tazza Sprint f ' 2002) u l-ġid tiegħu ta ' l-g ħarfien jikkontribwixxi bil-kbir għal Gibbs, hekk b ' mod effettiv li t-tlieta mit-timijiet tiegħu għandhom ikunu saħansitra aħjar milli fil-passat.
OK, matt, issa taf x ' inhu mistenni għalik. Allura x ' tistenna mill-organizzazzjoni Gibbs? Il-Busch u Hamlin kisbu l-idea t-tajba?
"Nittama li huma dritt," Kenseth qal fil-jum tal-midja annwali NASCAR fuq FEB .14. "Nittama li l-aspettattivi tagħhom ma jkunux għoljin wisq."
Inti verament ma tistax tort Busch u Hamlin, jew xi ħadd ieħor fil Gibbs, jekk iħossu Kenseth se tgħolli l-bar.
Il-Wiskonin nattiv kien ikkompetiet fil-15-il sena tiegħu fit-tlielaq tat-tazza tal-Sprint bit-tlielaq ta ' Roush Fenway.
Huwa għandu 24 victorji tal-karriera u, kif qal, il-kampjonat 2002. Darbtejn biss fil-karriera tiegħu kien spiċċa mill-aqwa 10 fil-klassifika finali tal-punti. Huwa kien is-seba ' fl-2012.
Issa, ikkunsidra li huwa li ġejjin abbord tim li, ma Hamlin u Busch, ilha suċċess twil.
Iva, l-ebda sewwieq ma rebaħ titlu. Iżda Hamlin ingħaqad ma ' Gibbs fl-2006 u rebaħ 22 tiġrijiet minn dakinhar. Huwa rebaħ tmien darbiet fl-2010 u ħamsa fil 2012.
Il-CEO ta ' NASCAR Brian France JR. (Ċentru) kien f ' Newtown għal-laqgħat dwar l-inizjattiva tal-GAN ċ ramlija u hu u martu taw id-donazzjoni ta ' $50,000 għall-kawża.

Huwa kien mill-top 10 biss darba fis-seba ' snin tiegħu ma Gibbs u stralċjat sitta fil 2012.
Imbagħad hemm Busch. Huwa ngħaqad ma ' Gibbs fl-2008, is-sena li rebaħ tmien tiġrijiet. Huwa spiċċa biex jirbaħ 16 aktar. Madankollu, huwa spiċċa fost l-aqwa 10 darba biss.
Huwa beda s-sena li għaddiet, u tilfu post fil-chase fl-a ħħar mument lejn Jeff Gordon.
Still, dan ma jieħu lott kollu ta ' brainpower biex jilħqu l-konklu żjoni li ma ' l-numri b ' saħħithom sewwieqa tagħha jkunu għaddew matul is-snin, Gibbs għandha rata bħala contender Titolu.
"Naħseb kull meta jkollok tim kbir u teammates inti tipprova tutilizza kull għodda li għandek," Kenseth qal. "Inti tipprova taħdem flimkien. Inti tipprova tagħmel l-organizzazzjoni tajba kif jista ' jkun. Tipprova tikseb it-tliet karozzi biex tmexxi ' l quddiem. "
Jekk dan huwa kif huwa, Kenseth qal, allura r-ri żultat huwa joffri kull tim individwali aktar opportunità.
"Iva, Nisperaw, bit-tim rispettiv tiegħek tista ' insemmu mod biex tirbaħ," huwa qal. "Iżda dan kollu huwa dwar li jkollna l-kumpanija biex taħdem tajjeb. Jekk dan jiġri, allura se jkun tant l-aħjar għalija u tant l-aqwa għall-oħrajn.
"Aħna nistgħu naslu sal-punt fejn it-tliet timijiet kollha jargumentaw dwar ir-Rebħiet u, Nisperaw, kampjonat."
Dritt issa, ħafna osservaturi qed jaħsbu li l-odds huma tajbin li huwa eżattament dak li se jiġri.

OSSERVAZZJONIJIET: fil-jum tal-midja, tħabbar li l-NASCAR, it-tlielaq tal-Swan u ż-żewġ time Daytona 500 Champion Michael Waltrip jagħmlu ġieħ speċjali biex iqajmu kuxjenza u kontribuzzjonijiet għall-Fond ta ' appoġġ għall-Iskejjel bil-GAN ċ ramli.
Wara laqgħa privata ma ' uffiċjali tal-Belt, mexxejja tal-Komunità, dawk li rrispondew l-ewwel u l-familji tal-vittmi l-ġimgħa li għaddiet f ' Newtown, Conn., NASCAR, tlielaq ta ' Swan u Waltrip ħabbru li l-No. 30 Lean1 Swan Racing Toyota, minflok se ssir in-No. 26 ganċ ramli Il-Fond ta ' appoġġ għall-Iskejjel Toyota biex tonora s-26 vittma ta ' skola elementari tal-GAN ċ ramlija u b ' mod prominenti karatteristika ta ' sejħa għall-azzjoni li tinkoraġġixxi l-Komunità nascar li tagħmel donazzjonijiet $10 minn SMS newtown għal 80888.
Il-kontribuzzjonijiet-100 fil-mija minnhom-se jibbenefikaw il-Fond ta ' appoġġ għall-Iskejjel tal-GAN ċ ramlija, li jappoġġja l-pro Ċess tal-fejqan għal ħafna ċittadini Newtown.
Minbarra li jsuqu l-karozza Newtown fil-Daytona 500, Waltrip ikkonferma li t-tliet daħliet kollha tat-tlielaq tal-vja ġġ ta ' Michael Waltrip se jmexxu t-"test NEWTOWN għal 80888" decal fit-tellieqa.
Il-President tan-NASCAR u s-CEO Brian France ħabbru wkoll li hu u martu Amy kienu se jitfu personalment l-appo ġġ tal-industrija NASCAR b ' donazzjoni ta ' $50,000 li se tkun imqabbla mill-Fondazzjoni NASCAR.
Issa, aħna lkoll rajna programmi ta ' karità li fihom intgħażlu l-karozzi u s-sewwieqa biex jgħinu l-appo ġġ tad-drum. Matul is-snin kien hemm punteġġi minnhom.
Dan huwa differenti.
Bħala Waltrip u oħrajn tkellmu dwar il-laqg ħa f ' Newtown, ħadd ma naqas milli jinnota l-bidla emozzjonali li ġab fl-udjenza kif sema ' dak li kien qal.
Ħafna tbatttu-u ma għamlux dan sa mill-in ċident terribbli ta ' DEC .14 li fih 20 tifel u tifla u sitt adulti mietu.
Dawk li wettqu l-laqg ħa qal li kien ferm ċar li ċ-ċittadini Newtown ma kinux daqshekk IMĦASSBA bil-flus.
Pjuttost, huma kienu eċċitati fuq avveniment li jsaħħaħ l-ispirti tagħhom u jipprovduhom b ' sors ċentrali ta ' kburija.
Newtown se jkollha karozza tagħha stess fil-Daytona 500. Se jkun immexxi minn rebbieħ ta ' żewġ-ħin. Se jkun sors ta ' unità, spirtu u fejqan għall-Komunità.
Anke jekk mhux dime waħda huwa kkontribwit, dak hu l-mod li se jkun. Naħseb li huwa aktar importanti għaċ-ċittadini ta ' Newtown mill-flus.
Dan huwa dak li jagħmel dan l-isforz differenti. Mhuwiex dwar il-karità daqs kemm hi l-kura, l-appo ġġ u t-ti ġdid.
F ' NASCAR, qatt ma sar bħal dan qabel-u huwa denja ta ' l-og ħla tifħir.

— B ' votazzjoni li għalqet l-a ħħar lejl, is-sapporters ivvutaw fuq l-ewwel komponent tal-isprint Unlimited – it-tul tat-tliet segmenti tat-tellieqa – li għandhom jiġu ssettjati għal 30 dawriet, 25 dawriet u 20 dawriet.
Għall-ewwel darba fl-istorja tal-isport ta ' 65-il sena, NASCAR u Sprint ħabbret ix-xahar li għadda li s-sapporters jivvutaw biex jiddeċiedu bosta elementi ewlenin tal-kompetizzjoni fit-tellieqa f ' Daytona, issettjata għas-Sibt bil-lejl fit-8 p.m. ET.
Il-kombinazzjoni rebbieħa għat-tulijiet tas-segment irċeviet 55 fil-mija tal-voti, filwaqt li l-g ħażla għal 40 dawriet, 20 dawriet u 15 dawriet spiċċaw it-tieni bi 23 fil-mija. Fl-a ħħar post kienet l-g ħażla għal 35 dawriet, 30 dawriet u 10 dawriet bi 22 fil-mija.
Huh?
I kien wieħed mill-ħafna li feltru fannijiet żgur li jivvutaw favur ta ' "shootout" 10-ħoġor.
"Ħej, ħsibt li jkun hemm" shootout, "ukoll," qal Driver Aric Almirola.
Il-fannijiet għad għandhom il-ħin biex jivvutaw dwar l-u żu, jew in-nuqqas ta ' użu ta ' pit stop – u t-tip li se jkun-l-eliminazzjoni possibbli ta ' sewwieqa u, minn golly, li firesuit jitlef tazza Sprint se jilbsu fil-karre ġġata.

It was announced at Daytona that Michael Waltrip would drive a Swan Racing Toyota in the Daytona 500 to raise awareness and support for Newtown, Conn. and Sandy Hook Elementary School.

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – A couple of weeks ago, drivers Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch gushed about how excited they were with a change at their Joe Gibbs Racing team.
The addition of Matt Kenseth for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season would add depth and experience to the team and, possibly, make it a stronger championship contender.
Both said Kenseth’s championship lineage (he won the Sprint Cup title in 2002) and his wealth of knowledge would contribute greatly to Gibbs, so effectively that all three of its teams should be even better than in the past.
OK, Matt, now you know what it expected of you. So what do you expect from the Gibbs organization? Have Busch and Hamlin got the right idea?
“I hope they’re right,” Kenseth said at the annual NASCAR Media Day on Feb. 14. “I hope their expectations aren’t too high.”
You really can’t fault Busch and Hamlin, or anyone else at Gibbs, if they feel Kenseth will raise the bar.
The Wisconsin native has competed in all of his 15 years in Sprint Cup racing with Roush Fenway Racing.
He has 24 career victories and, as said, the 2002 championship. Only twice in his career has he finished out of the top 10 in the final point standings. He was seventh in 2012.
Now, consider that he is coming on board a team that, with Hamlin and Busch, has long been successful.
Yes, neither driver has won a title. But Hamlin joined Gibbs in 2006 and has won 22 races since. He won eight times in 2010 and five in 2012.
NASCAR CEO Brian France Jr. (center) was in Newtown for meetings on the Sandy Hook initiative and he and his wife have donated $50,000 to the cause.

He’s been out of the top 10 only once in his seven years with Gibbs and wound up sixth in 2012.
Then there’s Busch. He joined Gibbs in 2008, the year he won eight races. He’s gone on to win 16 more. However, he’s finished among the top 10 only once.
He slipped last year, losing a spot in the Chase at the last moment to Jeff Gordon.
Still, it doesn’t take a whole lot of brainpower to reach the conclusion that with the healthy numbers its drivers have put up over the years, Gibbs has to rate as a title contender.
“I think whenever you have a big team and teammates you try to utilize every tool you have,” Kenseth said. “You try to work together. You try to make the organization as good as it can be. You try to get all three cars to run up front.”
If that is how it is, Kenseth said, then the result is it offers each individual team more opportunity.
“Yes, hopefully, with your respective team you can figure out a way to win,” he said. “But it’s all about getting the company to run good. If that happens, then it will be so much the better for me and so much the better for the others.
“We can get to the point where all three teams contend for the wins and, hopefully, a championship.”
Right now, many observers are thinking that the odds are good that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

OBSERVATIONS: At Media Day, it was announced that NASCAR, Swan Racing and two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip would conduct a special tribute to raise awareness and contributions for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.
Following a private meeting with town officials, community leaders, first responders and victims’ families last week in Newtown, Conn., NASCAR, Swan Racing and Waltrip announced that the No. 30 Lean1 Swan Racing Toyota will instead become the No. 26 Sandy Hook School Support Fund Toyota to honor the 26 victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School and prominently feature a call-to-action decal encouraging the NASCAR community to make $10 donations by texting NEWTOWN to 80888.
The contributions – 100 percent of them – will benefit the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, which supports the healing process for so many Newtown citizens.
In addition to driving the Newtown car in the Daytona 500, Waltrip confirmed that all three Michael Waltrip Racing entries will run the “text NEWTOWN to 80888” decal in the race.
NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France also announced that he and his wife Amy would personally kick off the NASCAR industry support with a $50,000 donation that will be matched by The NASCAR Foundation.
Now, we all have seen charity programs in which cars and drivers have been selected to help drum up support. Over the years there have been scores of them.
This is different.
As Waltrip and others spoke about the meeting in Newtown, none failed to note the emotional change it brought about in the audience as they listened to what was said.
Many smiled – and they hadn’t done so since the terrible Dec. 14 incident in which 20 children and six adults perished.
Those who conducted the meeting said it became abundantly clear that the Newtown citizens were not so much concerned with money.
Rather, they were excited over an event that would bolster their spirits and provide them with a central source of pride.
Newtown will have its own car in the Daytona 500. It will be driven by a two-time Daytona winner. It will be a source of unity, spirit and healing for the community.
Even if not a single dime is contributed, that’s the way it will be. I think that is more important to the citizens of Newtown than money.
This is what makes this effort different. It’s not about charity as much as it is caring, support and renewal.
In NASCAR, it’s never been done like this before – and is worthy of the highest commendation.

—- In voting that closed last night, fans voted on the first component of The Sprint Unlimited – the length of the race’s three segments – to be set at 30 laps, 25 laps and 20 laps.
For the first time in the sport’s 65-year history, NASCAR and Sprint announced last month that fans would vote to decide several key competition elements in the race at Daytona, set for Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET.
The winning combination for the segment lengths received 55 percent of the votes, while the option for 40 laps, 20 laps and 15 laps finished second with 23 percent. In last place was the option for 35 laps, 30 laps and 10 laps with 22 percent.
Huh?
I was one of many that felt fans would surely vote in favor of a 10-lap “shootout.”
“Hey, I thought there would be a ‘shootout,’ too,” said driver Aric Almirola.
Fans still have time to vote on the use, or non-use, of a pit stop – and the type it will be – the possible elimination of drivers and, by golly, which firesuit Miss Sprint Cup will wear in victory lane.