http://www.yardbarker.com/motor_sports Recent articles about Motor Sports en-us Once again, Chip Ganassi Racing will start the Indianapolis 500 packed close together. Unfortunately, for the foursome, that proximity is in the middle of the pack. Hopes of cracking the top nine and claiming a front-row view were quashed Saturday during pole qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a gaggle of faster Chevrolets left Ganassi's Hondas behind as the first 24 slots were decided. Defending champion Dario Franchitti was 17th after posting a four-lap average of 226.069 mph in his No. 10 Honda. Teammate Scott Dixon was one spot better in the No. 9 at 226.158. Charlie Kimball was 19th in Ganassi's No. 83 (225.880), and Ryan Briscoe's third attempt claimed 23rd for the No. 8 (225.265). Of course, Franchitti and Dixon started far back last year before finishing 1-2. And Franchitti, the three-time Indy champion, believes CGR is capable of another recovery on May 26. ''If we're going to be in a difficult spot, these are the guys I'd like to be with,'' Franch Sat, 18 May 2013 22:18:45 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/ganassi_foursome_endures_trying_day_at_indy/13647463 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/ganassi_foursome_endures_trying_day_at_indy/13647463 Ganassi foursome endures trying day at Indy http://www.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/articles/ganassi_foursome_endures_trying_day_at_indy/13647463 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The entire Chip Ganassi Racing organization had to have wanted better on Pole Day for the 97th Running of the Indianapolis 500. 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon was ninth quickest in the morning practice session while his teammate and defending 500 champion Dario Franchitti was 10th on the speed charts. The gang hasn’t been the quickest all month and certainly weren’t pole favorites but they did hope to put cars near the top nine and have at least one of the four cars in the stable in the Firestone Fast Nine session. Instead, they find themselves 16th, 17th, 19th and not in the top 24 with a Bump Day qualifier for the big show. When it counted the gang was just a bit off. Dixon was the first qualifier of the day and had a four-lap average of 226.158 mph. That lap surprisingly was only good enough for 16th. Right behind him is three-time winner Franchitti who had an average of 226.069 mph in the No. 10 Target Honda. What’s very ironic is the duo started 15th and 16th last year and fi... Sat, 18 May 2013 20:58:48 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/2013_indianapolis_500_rough_pole_day_for_ganassi_bunch/13647232 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/2013_indianapolis_500_rough_pole_day_for_ganassi_bunch/13647232 2013 Indianapolis 500: Rough Pole Day for Ganassi Bunch http://www.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/articles/2013_indianapolis_500_rough_pole_day_for_ganassi_bunch/13647232 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Jeremy Clements did just about the dumbest thing you could do… just when NASCAR was trying to introduce a new audience to the sport, Mr. Clements does his best to send them back to Civil War era. MTV reporter Marty Beckerman was speaking Clements and a NASCAR official, when Clements used ‘a phrase that used the n-word’ in a conversation about driving and not in reference to another driver, according to report from USA Today. On Wednesday, NASCAR indefinitely suspended Clements for the ”intolerable and insensitive remark” and violating its ”Code of Conduct.” The question is, what exactly did Clements say? All we know is that it was in reference to driving and somehow included the n-word. Beckerman says the driver called him to apologize for the remark. Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:44:17 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/nascar_driver_jeremy_clements_indefinitely_suspended_after_racial_remark/13033693 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/nascar_driver_jeremy_clements_indefinitely_suspended_after_racial_remark/13033693 NASCAR driver Jeremy Clements indefinitely suspended after racial remark http://www.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/articles/nascar_driver_jeremy_clements_indefinitely_suspended_after_racial_remark/13033693 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Check out the video. French stunt driver Guerlain Chicherit became the first person to perform a 360-degree backflip in a car. Chicherit drove his Mini toward the 25-foot high ramp at precisely 37 mph. He soared 75 feet into the air, flipped the car backwards and landed rear wheels first on the other side of a snow ramp at the French ski resort of Tignes in the Alps. Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:53:14 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/watch_the_worlds_first_360_degree_backflip_in_a_car_video/12943504 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/watch_the_worlds_first_360_degree_backflip_in_a_car_video/12943504 World's first 360-degree backflip in a car http://www.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/articles/watch_the_worlds_first_360_degree_backflip_in_a_car_video/12943504 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/5/05240f4ceca07eda9187788f327cd880878b5f35/mini/backflip.jpg One of the most photogenic sporting events in the world. Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:00:53 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/dakar_rally_2013_photos/12741829 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/dakar_rally_2013_photos/12741829 Gallery: Photos from the 2013 Dakar Rally http://www.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/articles/dakar_rally_2013_photos/12741829 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/3/9319695e88c04f9f76a857690ff2abd7c26f89f1/mini/1.jpg Rosalee Ramer is much like every other 15-year-old girl in Watsonville, Calif., except for one thing — she spends her free time “flying 10,000 pounds of truck through 30 feet of air.” That’s right — Ramer drives monster trucks. The sophomore at Pacific Collegiate School (who also plays the piano of all things) pilots Detour — a souped up 2010 Ford Ranger which she and her dad Kelvin built. She began changing tires at 8 years old, started learning to drive the big rigs at age 11 and competed in her first event at age 14. Ramer, who hopes to earn a degree in mechanical engineering at Stanford, “It’s definitely going to be part of my life for a long time,” Rosalee told the Santa Cruz Sentinel. “It’s what I love.” Check out the videos below. Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:19:20 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/monster_truck_driving_teenager_rosalee_ramer_taking_the_sport_to_new_heights/12145294 http://network.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/article_external/monster_truck_driving_teenager_rosalee_ramer_taking_the_sport_to_new_heights/12145294 Monster truck teen takes sport to new heights http://www.yardbarker.com/motor_sports/articles/monster_truck_driving_teenager_rosalee_ramer_taking_the_sport_to_new_heights/12145294 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/9/2982e3a552853b73da3d53f45039a8b92de3ef7b/mini/teenagertruck.jpg Farmers Insurance is rewarding one lucky Kasey Kahne fan with keys to a new car. As NASCAR's top drivers take to the track in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, fans of Kahne and the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet can chase their own dreams of that new car smell by entering the "Farmers Insurance Start Your Engines Sweepstakes." Fans can play for a chance to win $35,000 towards a Chevy at HendrickCars.com, or other fun prizes. The eight week contest runs through November 15, 2012. Simply visit http://FarmersPickAKey.com and select a key off the wall to be automatically entered into the grand prize drawing. If the engine starts you'll win an instant prize - a $25 or $50 certificate good towards Kasey Kahne gear at the NASCAR.com Superstore. Five instant prizes will be awarded daily. Fans can enter once a day, every day - the more you play, the better your chances of winning. "The best part of this sweepstakes is no one goes away a loser thanks to some hilarious consolation prizes," Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:58:50 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/farmers_to_give_car_to_a_kahne_fan/11988262 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/farmers_to_give_car_to_a_kahne_fan/11988262 Farmers to give car to a Kahne fan http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/farmers_to_give_car_to_a_kahne_fan/11988262 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Jeff Gordon was a huge surprise at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night. He qualified 13th, and he and his Hendrick Motorsports team seemed fairly happy with their car in the two practices Saturday at the track. Then in the race, he really searched and struggled most of the night. He ended up with an 18th-place finish. That kind of just wiped out, points-wise, those three awesome finishes he had in a row since that bad finish at Chicagoland Speedway. Now with five down and five to go, he finds himself 50 points out of the lead, ninth in the points. That's way too big of a mountain to climb. Clint Bowyer is the inspiration for drivers deeper in the Chase for the Sprint Cup because he headed into the Charlotte race 40 points out and he chopped 12 points off with his win Saturday night. He's now 28 back and in fourth place. But, for example, look right now at Martin Truex Jr., who is seventh and 49 points out. That's more than a full race. So not only is he more than a full race out, he&#3 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:39:41 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/bowyer_gordon_going_opposite_ways/11968717 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/bowyer_gordon_going_opposite_ways/11968717 Bowyer, Gordon going opposite ways http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/bowyer_gordon_going_opposite_ways/11968717 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/c/2cb56a79d6719bdc926de16c293bf8e28c66cc8f/mini/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f101625990.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921A343B2C87A49D8F51B12FFF24E0871456B642544D8CAD7E34CB9B17F60164188.jpg Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn't want to climb out of the No. 88 car this weekend -- or any weekend. Finally, the pieces had come together. In his fifth season at Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt had blossomed under the direction of crew chief Steve Letarte. Earnhardt had led the point standings for the first time in eight years. After a four-season drought, he returned to Victory Lane. And for the second consecutive season, Earnhardt had earned a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. In 2012, Earnhardt finally had a legitimate shot at the championship -- until Sunday. What appeared to be a relatively benign crash -- at least by Talladega Superspeedway standards -- compounded symptoms from an earlier accident Earnhardt experienced during a tire test at Kansas Speedway on Aug. 29. On Wednesday, Earnhardt was diagnosed with a concussion. Consequently, he withdrew from the next two races on the Sprint Cup schedule -- Charlotte and Kansas. "It's frustrating," Earnhardt said. "I really didn&#39 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 19:37:27 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/dale_jr_living_a_drivers_nightmare/11938954 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/dale_jr_living_a_drivers_nightmare/11938954 Dale Jr. living a driver's nightmare http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/dale_jr_living_a_drivers_nightmare/11938954 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/e/2ee5b122158c483b697e096178bc362e1859f402/mini/NASCAR_Preseason_Thunder_5a30.jpg ((HT: WCNC-TV)) Not bad to have a disposable $7.5-million or so, right...??? Kyle Busch bought a 13,000-square-foot home on Lake Norman (NC) last month for a Charlotte-area record $7.5 million... Evidence below... Local attorney Cliff Homesley, who is identified in the records as trustee of the private trust that owns the home, represented Busch in his 128-in-a-45 speeding case last year. Homesley declined this week to say who bought the home. “It’s confidential,” he said. “I can’t verify anything.” Of course, he can't... The previous record for a sale price in the area was a little over $6.3-million in 2007. Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:07:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/kyle_buschs_new_75m_mega_mansion/11917975 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/kyle_buschs_new_75m_mega_mansion/11917975 Kyle Busch's New $7.5M Mega Mansion http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/kyle_buschs_new_75m_mega_mansion/11917975 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Can you imagine the Sprint Cup Series without Dale Earnhardt Jr.? "If this is what we did every week, I wouldn't be doing it, I will just put it to you like that," Earnhardt said after Sunday's Good Sam 500 at Talladega Speedway. "If this is how we raced every week, I would find another job." Yes, it was in the heat of the moment. Yes, it was after a valiant comeback from outside of the top 20 and off the lead lap. And yes, it was after Junior watched his championship hopes dashed after leading the points nine races ago but now falling to being mired in 11th place, 51 points behind Brad Keselowski. Earnhardt, who turns 38 on Wednesday, is known for his restrictor-plate prowess -- particularly at Talladega where he claims five career wins. However, none of Earnhardt's victories on the 2.66-mile track have been earned since NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow was introduced in 2007. And that year, the Talladega event resembled more of a parade not a race. In the past three Chase rac Mon, 08 Oct 2012 14:57:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/earnhardt_jr_fed_up_with_this_race/11910448 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/earnhardt_jr_fed_up_with_this_race/11910448 Earnhardt Jr. fed up with this race http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/earnhardt_jr_fed_up_with_this_race/11910448 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/5/d5caaba3ec9c6abf5d85069b44d046619b8af433/mini/Ford_400_Practice_c4c5.jpg Kurt Busch’s final race with Phoenix Racing started out well, and Busch took the No. 51 to the lead. However, he unexpectedly ran out of gas and was wrecked on Lap 99. Safety workers arrived on the scene and Busch appeared to be all right after firing up his damaged race car. But adding insult to injury, Busch was parked by NASCAR because he drove away with an equipment bag belonging to the safety workers on the roof of his car. Here’s the video of the crash and its aftermath. Busch’s explanation of the troubles in his life starts at 2:32.   Sun, 07 Oct 2012 17:34:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/watch_kurt_busch_rant_at_talladega_after_wrecking_and_being_parked_by_nascar/11902564 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/watch_kurt_busch_rant_at_talladega_after_wrecking_and_being_parked_by_nascar/11902564 Watch Kurt Busch rant at Talladega after wrecking and being parked by NASCAR http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/watch_kurt_busch_rant_at_talladega_after_wrecking_and_being_parked_by_nascar/11902564 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Regan Smith and Kurt Busch are trading places - at least for now. Smith, 29, will drive the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway while Busch takes over the seat in the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet for the remainder of the season and on to next year. "We're looking forward to having Regan in our car," said Phoenix Racing general manager Steve Barkdoll. "Regan performed the tire test at Kansas and that should be helpful at intermediate tracks. We believe he can help get our program back on track and help attract sponsorship going forward." Smith has competed in NASCAR since 2002 and in the Sprint Cup Series since 2007. His sole official win came last year at Darlington Raceway, but Smith came incredibly close to his first victory here at Talladega in the fall of 2008. However, in NASCAR's judgment, Smith was dropped from first to 18th after the race for passing below the yellow line to advance his position. Smith is currently a career-best 23rd in the Cup Sun, 07 Oct 2012 12:55:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/regan_smith_to_drive_for_phoenix_racing/11900806 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/regan_smith_to_drive_for_phoenix_racing/11900806 Regan Smith to drive for Phoenix Racing http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/regan_smith_to_drive_for_phoenix_racing/11900806 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/6/f60bd6ce45d44a2e0f4663acd651159e55415f75/mini/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f96451201.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921A343B2C87A49D8F554BD4710BA67261610914119203EDCF435B22BB4A0B97B06.jpg Where is the Roush Fenway Racing organization that led the points for 21 of the first 26 races before the Chase for the Sprint Cup began? Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth were so incredibly consistent throughout the regular season that it's hard to believe that the two Roush Fenway Racing entries competing in NASCAR's "playoffs" now sit in the Chase cellar after the first three races. Yes, you can say that Roush has never been competitive at Chicagoland Speedway. And no, the organization hasn't quite been gangbusters at New Hampshire. But this is Dover for goodness sakes, a track where Jack Roush has nine wins, most recently with Kenseth last year. But on Sunday, Roush's most recent winner asked if his crew "was trying to kill" him after a truck arm broke off the back of the No. 17 - for a second time on Lap 317. From Kenseth's first pit stop, however, he was already off the lead lap. And his future teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin added insult to injury every time Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:29:25 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/whats_wrong_with_roush_fenway/11855974 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/whats_wrong_with_roush_fenway/11855974 What's wrong with Roush Fenway? http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/whats_wrong_with_roush_fenway/11855974 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/5/05322a92e973159ff3520d05b509779c45d7d218/mini/aaa-400-practice.jpg ??? Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:38:21 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/busch_to_depart_team_after_dega/11823295 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/busch_to_depart_team_after_dega/11823295 Busch to depart team after 'Dega http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/busch_to_depart_team_after_dega/11823295 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/2/f257ce89989d23341463b65cb50de93b0dfb5ce5/mini/NASCAR_Sprint_Cup_9152.jpg