Stewart, Harvick stump for local-racing funding
Special to Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK
It turns out not everyone is thrilled that ISM Raceway is undergoing a $178 million transformation that likely will make its competitor and fan amenities second-best to only Daytona International Speedway.
Who? Try Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart.
Harvick and Stewart, both of whom have deep roots and passion for grassroots racing series, said they wish the former Phoenix International Raceway still hosted the Copper World Classic and K&N Series events. Harvick said he has spoken with track President Bryan Sperber and those races “aren’t in the budget.”
“We can afford to spend $170 million to move the frontstretch from there over to there,” Stewart said, referring to the plan to shift the start/finish line from the current front straightaway to the dogleg. "I still have no idea what the reason for that is.”
Said Harvick: “I've been mad at Sperber here for a couple years now because he won't have the K&N cars come race here because it doesn't help his budget.
“Without those grassroots fans, those grassroots people, coming and being able to race here, whether it fits your budget or not, 10 years from now you better hope you have some people that will sit in the stands and wanting to watch these races at your short tracks because those are your hardcore fans, those are your grassroots fans.”
When informed of what Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 winning driver and car owner said, Sperber’s reaction was calm but firm.
“Supporting grassroots racing is important and we’ve done that for many years,” he said. “It’s my hope that we are going to be able to do more of that. In a couple of weeks (for the April 7 IndyCar race) we have quarter-midgets and those kids are really looking forward to that.
“You could always do more in anything. I would welcome the support of Tony and Kevin if they wanted to get involved and roll up their sleeves and work on building some events that could attract and support more grassroots racing. That would be a fantastic opportunity that I would jump at.
“If they are serious about that they know how to get a hold of me. They have an open invitation to work with us to put the thing together. The good news is, in November, I’ll have a facility that will be a showcase for all sorts of events and attractive to growing new drivers and fans.”
Gordon’s fame
Four-time Monster Energy Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was one of 20
nominees announced last week for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Will he become the first official unanimous, first-ballot inductee?
“Anybody who doesn’t vote for Jeff is an idiot,” Stewart told azcentral sports. “If they don’t vote for him it better be because there are at least five other people more deserving.”
NASCAR didn’t announce vote percentages for the inaugural 2010 class, which included founder Bill France Sr. and Richard Petty, generally believed to have been unanimous. Driver David Pearson (2011) and car owner/engine builder Robert Yates (2018) received 94 percent of the votes. The selection committee typically is 50-60 voters and includes NASCAR officials, manufacturer representatives, track operators and media.
“If Jeff isn’t voted in at 100 percent on the first ballot, someone in that voting panel room doesn’t have their act together,” said former crew chief and current Fox TV analyst Larry McReynolds. “What could you say to vote against him on the first ballot?”
Glendale driver Michael McDowell doesn’t have a vote, but did offer a possible reason. “The only rationale not to vote for him right now is he still has a long career in this sport as an owner (Gordon has equity in the No. 24 and 48 Hendrick Motorsports teams) and TV personality. There’s guys who probably don’t have as much time left in the sport.”
Bowman’s blues
It’s no cliché to say Tucson’s Alex Bowman had a long, hot day in the TicketGuardian 500.
The fans inside his Chevrolet didn’t work properly, perhaps due to an electrical problem, and so Bowman wasn’t getting enough cool air. Dale Earnhardt Jr., whom Bowman replaced, sympathized on Twitter: “Had that same issue almost weekly last season. Luckily the new cool vest is quite comfortable even (when) it doesn’t work. But the helmet is not!” Bowman, who also had a penalty for pit-road speeding, finished 13th. McDowell also had a speeding penalty, and another on his crew, and was 32.
Pit stops
Roger Penske became the winningest team owner in the raceway’s 50plus year history with Brad Keselowski’s Xfinity Series victory Saturday. Penske has 15 wins (9 IndyCar, 4 Xfinity Series, 2 Cup) to Rick Hendrick’s 14 (all NASCAR.)
Attendance was 38,000, as estimated by azcentral sports. Construction reduced grandstand capacity to about 40,000.