Home » Sports » Motor Sports
January 24. 2013 10:32PM
Another day closer to the Daytona 500.
At Frank Stoddard's garage in Mooresville, N.C., the No. 32 Ford is finally off the lift and ready for the first paint job of the season. The North Haverhill native and long-time NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief is almost ready to unveil the new "Generation 6" stock car, to be driven by Terry Labonte at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 24.
At the end of last season, NASCAR Sprint Cup retired the "Car of Tomorrow" - a boxier car with a higher center of gravity - that teams had been racing since 2007. Owners, crew chiefs and drivers raised a proverbial toast when that version was put out to pasture.
"I don't think anyone really liked it. It was awful. It was big and boxy. The (detached) wing was a horrific idea. The car didn't do much of anything very well," said Stoddard, owner of FAS Lane Racing, which is sponsored by U.S. Chrome, Federated Auto Parts and C & J Energy Sources.
The "Gen 6" looks more like a souped-up car that was driven out of the show room. Stoddard's No. 32 has the look of a Ford Fusion. The Toyota car more closely resembles the Camry this season. The Chevrolet SS also has the look of a high-performance sedan.
During preseason testing, all three models have turned competitive laps. That makes a lot of people happy.
"We're such a sponsor-driven sport and always have been. There's an old saying, 'Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.' Fans have always been loyal to manufacturers, and it's good to see NASCAR getting back to that type of branding," said Jerry Gappens, president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Gappens spent the week at the 2013 Sprint Media Tour, headquartered at Charlotte Motor Speedway. No matter where he went, the big story was the new Gen-6 racing machine.
"For whatever reason, drivers never really liked the old version," said Gappens
It was a productive week for Gappens, who announced a five-year contract extension with Osram Sylvania for the track's fall Cup race. The renewal keeps the Sylvania 300 name on the Sprint Cup circuit through 2017. The July race at Loudon, formerly known as the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, has a vacancy for title sponsor. Tickets for both Sprint Cup Series events at NHMS can be purchased by calling 783-4931 or by visiting nhms.com.
NH's Stoddard anxious to go with 'Gen 6' car
At Frank Stoddard's garage in Mooresville, N.C., the No. 32 Ford is finally off the lift and ready for the first paint job of the season. The North Haverhill native and long-time NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief is almost ready to unveil the new "Generation 6" stock car, to be driven by Terry Labonte at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 24.
At the end of last season, NASCAR Sprint Cup retired the "Car of Tomorrow" - a boxier car with a higher center of gravity - that teams had been racing since 2007. Owners, crew chiefs and drivers raised a proverbial toast when that version was put out to pasture.
"I don't think anyone really liked it. It was awful. It was big and boxy. The (detached) wing was a horrific idea. The car didn't do much of anything very well," said Stoddard, owner of FAS Lane Racing, which is sponsored by U.S. Chrome, Federated Auto Parts and C & J Energy Sources.
The "Gen 6" looks more like a souped-up car that was driven out of the show room. Stoddard's No. 32 has the look of a Ford Fusion. The Toyota car more closely resembles the Camry this season. The Chevrolet SS also has the look of a high-performance sedan.
During preseason testing, all three models have turned competitive laps. That makes a lot of people happy.
"We're such a sponsor-driven sport and always have been. There's an old saying, 'Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.' Fans have always been loyal to manufacturers, and it's good to see NASCAR getting back to that type of branding," said Jerry Gappens, president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Gappens spent the week at the 2013 Sprint Media Tour, headquartered at Charlotte Motor Speedway. No matter where he went, the big story was the new Gen-6 racing machine.
"For whatever reason, drivers never really liked the old version," said Gappens
It was a productive week for Gappens, who announced a five-year contract extension with Osram Sylvania for the track's fall Cup race. The renewal keeps the Sylvania 300 name on the Sprint Cup circuit through 2017. The July race at Loudon, formerly known as the Lenox Industrial Tools 301, has a vacancy for title sponsor. Tickets for both Sprint Cup Series events at NHMS can be purchased by calling 783-4931 or by visiting nhms.com.
- Ragan tops NASCAR Goliaths at Talladega - 0
- NASCAR upholds Penske penalties - 0
- NASCAR Sprint Cup: Harvick late move wins Richmond - 0
- Tom Herzig's Trackside: Thunder Road plays host to ACT race - 0
- Tom Herzig's Trackside: Valenti Modified back at Monadnock - 0
- Kyle Busch completes Texas two-step with win in NRA 500 - 0
- Jimmie Johnson dominates at Martinsville - 0
- Tom Herzig's Trackside: Valenti Modified Series kicks off season - 0
- Kyle Busch steals win at Auto Club 400 - 0
Tom Herzig's Trackside: Cannan race offers $5,000 for first-place finisher
READER COMMENTS: 0- UNH commencement speaker tells graduates: Don't worry about mistakes, learn from them - 2
- Ayotte tells NEC graduates to be passionate about their work - 1
- Antioch University awards 145 degrees - 0
- Message to Nashua Community College grads: find strength - 0
- 160 students graduate from White Mountains Community College - 0
- Portsmouth driver distracted by Facebook hits utility pole - 0
- Robber escapes with drugs from Keene CVS - 0
- Teen hurt in Amherst boating crash - 0
- Portsmouth police DWI roadblock stops 179 motorists yielding 4 arrests - 0
Former FBI head tells St. Anselm graduates it is important to give back
READER COMMENTS: 1| Follow us: | ||
 |
 |
 |
Sorry, no question available