THE LINE

November 9, 2011

(© 2011, Autostock, USA - Nigel Kinrade)
Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Crown Royal Ford) and Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Aflac Ford) lead Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet) on a restart at Texas Motor Speedway during the AAA Texas 500 this past Sunday. Stewart proved to be dominant - again - leading 173 of 334 laps and setting a speed record of 152.705 mph, the fastest of 22 Cup races ever run at Texas. A notoriously streaky racer, it was Stewart's second straight victory and his fourth in eight Chase races. Stewart suggested that his chief rival, Carl Edwards, should beware that he's coming after the previous week's win at Martinsville. So after his Texas win Stewart had this to say, “I’m pretty sure what we did on the race track said everything we needed to tell him today. I don’t know how you top that. The funny thing, I don’t feel like I have to say anything. I feel like I’ve already got it done.” “Definitely, we wanted to beat Tony and pad that lead a little bit,” Edwards said. “At the end of the day, we can walk out of here with our heads up. We’re still the points leader… It’s going to be a great battle.” Though Edwards is the points leader for the fifth week in a row, with the win at Texas Stewart cut the points margin from eight to three. Next up is Phoenix, where the track has been reconfigured and resurfaced since NASCAR ran there back in February in the second race this season, and then on to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the finale.

(© 2011, Autostock, USA - Brian Czobat)
Carl Edwards getting passed by Trevor Bayne (No. 16 Roush Fenway Ford Mustang) for the lead in the Nationwide Series race at the Texas Motor Speedway last Saturday afternoon. It was not only Bayne's first Nationwide win, it clinched the Nationwide Manufacturer's Championship for Ford. "We're thrilled to win the NASCAR Nationwide Manufacturers' Championship," Jamie Allison, Director of Ford Racing, said. "Not only is it our first since 2002, but, more importantly, it's the first championship for Mustang in NASCAR. Mustang - as it has for 47 years - continues to be a force in all forms of racing.   This has been a great year for Ford and Roush Fenway in Nationwide, with Carl (Edwards), Ricky (Stenhouse Jr.) and Trevor all providing some great moments and 13 victories. Now, it would be great to add the driver’s championship by Ricky to this special year for Mustang and Ford.”

(BMW)

Racing fans can now get their hands on a unique, feature-length documentary about BMW Motorsport’s endeavours at the Nürburgring 24 Hours: “24hours – ONE TEAM. ONE TARGET” by film-makers Tim and Nick Hahne. Armed with their camera, the brothers accompanied BMW Motorsport during its preparations for the endurance classic before filming the race action in the “Green Hell” at close hand. The result is an intimate, 104-minute sports documentary, which is available on DVD or Blu-ray at www.racingwebshop.de. More information on the film itself is available at www.24hours-der-film.de.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: If you really must keep up on all of the latest F1 developments and the potential U.S. GP in Austin, Texas, go here. - PMD

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

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