NASCAR Live - January 3, 2016

The following is a production of the motor racing network. The voice of NASCAR. Everybody but again there are a lot of our. Big focus. There are the motor racing network presents. NASCAR lock it was a weird accident that nobody ever thought would happen I mean I can even make the story about how I got. I got hurt can even make it sound really how big it can't quite Coptic. And why it happened. Mean obviously we want bill to get what when dale is ready it's his target back in putter bailed him go next week Jeff Gordon will be the driver. From the motor racing network studios in Concord, North Carolina series your folks. Mike Bagley. Hello everybody happy new year and welcome to NASCAR lie exactly of the umpiring crew here we view as we begin. Here 34. NASCAR live so glad you're spending your time without us. All originally we had NASCAR chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian France scheduled to join us but. To to some unforeseeable conflicts Brian will not be able to join us instead. He will be joining us next Tuesday so that gives you. Another week to think of a question or two for NASCAR's top man of course you can tweet them to us at MRI radio. He's hash tag asked MR end this week. Don't look back at the top stories of 2016. With the members of the they're gonna weigh in on last year's stories. Rossum and a dip down on the pit road with the Winston Kelly Steve post Alix Hayden came coon. And will bring in Dave Moodie pal Rickie and woody came from the turns before we start to count down though we have to look at how last year started. And that last year started with a loss of our lead anchor mentor and all around friend Barney hall he meant so much to us. Joseph Moore worked closely with Barney in the Booth for many many years and well Joseph this is not the way we wanted to start off 2016. It hit all of us pretty hard. Well absolutely you know Barney got to slow down his schedule over the last few years because of health problems that have led to his. His death and you know we missed him a lot in the Booth but it was still nice to be a ligament caller renowned and see what's going on and he was still interested in what was happening. And motor racing network and yeah I would have finally hit you know as it is with any loved one of you know that's sidestep this a moment you'd you'd you can't expect and although how to deal with. Interesting thing about Barney is he is a one broadcaster but at same time is a great friend that I think all of us at one point or another. Had that time behind the truck with a Barney when he it's a boy. Meet up with some right now any proceeding give us some of that Barney hall vice well that and and the best advice I think ever got from Barney and I don't know that he ever. And really to be behind the truck and and and talked to me about this but it's just by his actions. And thinks he would say every now meant was that. We have to have a little bit of fund business you know people listened to of this sport because. Yet their Poland for certain driver but this is there entertainment. And if we get too serious about it you know we're doing a disservice to these fans because they wanna have a little fun in Barney it was serious about what he did. He knew what he was talking about and you are subject matter. But the same time he always wanted to keep a little bit that levity in there. To such an extent. That and this is a that I noticed after working with Barney the first few years. You know he would always tell a joke during a commercial break kind of lighten the mood no matter what was going knowledge and equipment breaking down or whatever was happening and out. And then and I noticed that. He would pull something out of his pocket and kind of look at all of the side stick it back in his pocket and about ten minutes later. He Bobbitt joke golf you know and I finally quit the other is doing homework. It notes he thought that was such a big part of what we were doing keep the whole mood light. That he would do homework get his notes ready had his jokes and he kept us entertained throughout the broadcast and made us all better or what we did what he kept a joke book in his locker and I would watch it sometimes you write the jokes on his hip and read all on and all the sudden you know I'd want to ask so what he wrote and but halfway through the race here comes and I miss those to his buried them and and of course Barney's. Not leadership. As to what we're supposed to be doing you know a lot of broadcasters in the sport TV and radio. You know just just beat you to death with statistics. You know and some of that you'd need Barney would always say. Boy altogether due to talk about what's going on on that racetrack. Tell people where air by drawn on how much longer is left in the race. Brief recap of what's happened that's all he had to do talk about what's going on. And that always proved to be the best the growing gets more coming up and also coming up on NASCAR live all star count down. With the tenth biggest story of 2016. With the MR and grew right here on NASCAR. Do you need help with moving your equipment industry leading companies do and they trust housing transport to move their internal equipment probably am professionally at how we transport we pride ourselves on efficiency timeliness ANC in our customers' money with our team of logistics managers always ready to assist you in any way possible any size anytime anywhere Palffy transport is ready to move. For more information can't to a team of quote visit help speed. An official sponsor of NASCAR program. Or forty years. Come join us every weekend that America's tailgate party NASCAR USA I am rob tanner. Your post said after the break as we get you ready for high octane NASCAR racing. Hot lap. We serve a few hours of the best fits in country music and keep yesterday with a racing news and features you won't find words sit down and have a C. It's a regular weekend pit stop but country music defeated fellow NASCAR USA on the motor racing. How would you like to sail the high seas cruising along side have Lorenzo NASCAR hall of Famer Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt junior you can do exactly that. On the inaugural NASCAR the crews as it sits in January 29 to February 3. Get all the details at NASCAR the cruise dot com slash and Laurent. He's not only join rusty and dale sale alongside the king Richard Petty Michael Waltrip and many more plus a joint concert by the beach boys and 38 special. Book today with the emirate promo code by going to NASCAR the cruise dot com slash MR and that's NASCAR the cruise dot com slash MR end. More of the top ten stories of 2016 coming up this is NASCAR live on the motor racing network the voice of NASCAR. This is NASCAR live countdown of the top ten biggest stories of the morning sixteen NASCAR season. Number ten it is the first and only motorsports Stevie break in Daytona Beach, Florida the first motor sports stadium. Daytona rising. It's time drop the green flag racing and great American race and not a seat to be had here at this brand new motor sports stadium Carlo Hamburg and this is no gimmick this is not. That PR stunt. NASCAR I guess the Daytona people I've talked to. They wanna do one thing they wanna make the best fan experience at sports network it's conceived internal putting in that investment and obviously is an drivers. We encourage other extraction should be doing a great sense of their facilities to match what determines doing. Because it will become the new standards. Rusty even go to Daytona for a lot of years financial when you went to Daytona in February that was my eye opening experience in their brand new stadium alma it was incredible I mean to see how big and bold and moderate everything was I might used to I used remember all the little places I used to go to the racetrack and hide out matter. The shortcuts to get in the track and short cuts to leave and whatever I had my own little. Think figured out the old speedway but when I got that are due when I was like oh my gosh this is so different and so beautiful I was just an all. To see what that track did and how they've rebuilt it in how fast they did it. And how beautiful is for the fans and everybody's just incredible so I mean. That was a big big deal this year to go to Daytona arising in even. Gulp opener MR and bit the C a brand new boots up there and and of view we had lists different. Higher it was great I loved was to uniting going to Daytona for a lot of years and we CNET racetrack go through several transformations. I don't think anything can compare to what we experience when we pulled all of the property for speed we expect in February when we Saul. When we got our first look at that Daytona rising project it was it was jaw dropping when Al. Kiki get an appreciation for standing in the infield airing in the garage area that you're going up. In today tone arising going through the different areas seeing some hospitality areas where people can go into the hospitality. And out and go back and forth because you know we've saying that people's attention spans. To sit there and watch any sporting event for three and a half or four hours is not the same as in the past and they want that interaction and that's one of the things that I think Daytona rising. Built in and a great experience before the race and all the hospitality. Shelley's. What was your impressions Jeff we'll start review. What we are impressions when year old all of the property at Daytona speed weeks assault Daytona rising come and play first class I mean all the expectation that we had going in we've read it we saw we saw prince. And to see it actually come to life Mike was spectacular I mean this is a first class. Stadium I think the accomplished everything that they wanted to do and more. And I think. You know as far as the fans are concerned man they they really stepped up and it's it's beautiful love. They tell has always been a very special place for all of us. And that just stamped it up I mean another 100%. To go there. Add pretty much that the home site of our sport. And see what they did that facility it it just speaks highly as to what NASCAR's doing for the fans and and the vision for the future you know it just makes us all feel good about where we're going with a sport. And you know more than we talked to the group toward the more we realize that you are passionate desire to do to win races and championships and here's new approaches. Is very much in line with the Halloween approaches to about treatment. Stewart Haas racing is moving to fort Tony Stewart has pledged. The 2002 NASCAR Winston cup championship we. He did that a lot of groups throughout street and it's not just. That's changing aliens that it's a great opportunity for us to. To kind of get out of the shadows in them and really yeah I get down on her own and I think that I'm in the everybody here at pictures really excited about crowd that was finally the position that. Q to do this great challenge. Stewart Haas racing announces they are moving to afford that was big news story that was a shock it was a shock with in the garage area. And and really a shock across the sport and I didn't if you don't come and a lot of times you hear the rumbles of those type of things. But we never heard this is a matter fact what we're mutual friends Nate Ryan who writes a great great writer that covers that sport. Nature really want on that he heard the rumble like three or four months earlier and he thought it was so well live mesh. But he never bird all the story. And so we we we heard when this thing was dropped I think it shocked everyone at a bigger shock people more than Ford that more in the know because. Alex as things kept very close to the vast. If it was you almost have to adopt your cap to everybody who was in the know at the time the Ford Motor Co. people Stewart Haas executives. To keep something like that secret for so long with that that's a heck of a challenge in a feat in itself. But they've taken a step further how impressive visit to get ahead of the curve and say here's what we're going to do next year at the start of this year. Tit to go ahead and get that out of the way make sure there's no distractions throughout the rest of this particular season with so much on the line get it out of the way and worry about that when the time's right. Obviously Steve post and Alex Hayden spending some time that's rusty we surprised that Tony Stewart was going to be a tied to something out of the Chevrolet. I was really surprised that that did blow me away at this you know Tony in Rick Hendrick in hospitals guys are so tight such good friends. I mean if you are quite a bit and they hang around each other quite a bit so. Have them switch from Chevrolet the Ford two meals like now what moment like oh what just happened you know because I know. Mr. Penske is awful big with Ford Motor Co. I mean they're getting the job done they're making it happen on the right track but. I do understand four to want to get more top teams in their camp. And obviously guard they've done that now with Harvick being prodded the lead driver of their Stewart Haas and now but. Yeah it was a big surprise to me now. How would they deal with the you know I guess are gonna build their own cars and you know obviously Roush Yates will still build the engines for them. And I know those guys have geared up get ready for that but that was a big moment that was one I'm still scratching my head at Dave how big was that story. Well how I think will know born in six months. But I think you know it to me it's a very similar story to win furniture row racing went from Chevrolet to Toyota you make moves like that for for one reason and one reason only. And that's because you think you can be better. With the new manufacturer then you are with the old manufacturer and I so Stewart Haas I think came to the conclusion that if you were going to be able to evolve before going to be able to do the kind of research and go down the roads. You know chassis wise that we wanna go down we're going to have to do this. Ourselves. And and I think you know that independents that that ability to say okay we're maternal left here instead of right we're gonna try this instead of that. That I think is the big attraction for the. We're counting down the top ten stories of play sixteen this week on NASCAR live we've got number eight it. Why sports are the one true reality entertainment. Where a single dramatic moment had become prime. In NASCAR motor racing network live broadcast elevate your senses of the sights sounds and struggles taking place on the racetrack hopped on the right track. Right I don't care I. The power of radios to the imagination of the listener to an end to the motor racing network. Visit Ameren dot com for an affiliate listed your local area. Race fans you know there's nothing like the power excitement and sounds of NASCAR ever wonder what it would be like to strap yourself in the seat and authentic NASCAR race car. You can deal with after Richard Petty driving experience a lot of longer drive yourself that one of fifteen tracks nationwide call 1800 feet. Q3 73889. Or visit online at drive petty dot com Richard Petty driving experience it's authentic and our entertainment call 18573889. Or visit drive petty dot com to reserve your experience. This portion of NASCAR live as part in my journal last breaks when it's time to replace or breaks. Get Rubin talked Earl laps the official breaks of NASCAR sold only at AutoZone. Get in result. AutoZone. More of the top ten stories of 2016 all the way this is NASCAR live on the motor racing network the voice of NASCAR. This is NASCAR live countdown of the top ten biggest stories of the 2016 NASCAR season number eight. He notes that you stuck with all year that featured close finishes are. Efforts to the end but he has the advantage apartment albeit again I can't do it again. Apartment behind it happened on our next hour of Atlanta again by 1100. Of a second. Denny Hamlin has won the 58 running of the Daytona 500 that was an amazing event and I don't shot. Yeah race record I don't want every contract has made Carlin a backup by our thoughts that pop up banking at Charlotte Arnold and. What exciting finishes stuck out to you here and when succeed him. Well obviously the finish in the Daytona 500 be as close it as it was but honestly I really liked the first Richmond Spanish where. You had Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards battling it out. For that. Checkered flag and it and it is TV's going ahead. And ultimately Carl Edwards bumped his teammates for the in and so you know that to mean sticks out as as. My favorite ending because again you know we talk so much about teenage now they were together all year and then to see them. You know not be teammates for a hot second and race as hard as they did I thought it was great. And then coach Joseph Gibbs goes from our our task they are all time suddenly the diplomat in charge of the U immediate I'm happy credit put everything back together. I think for me the colon was one that we can actually do want to Sonoma for MR and to do news audio and Tony Stewart. Gets tangled up with Denny Hamlin on the last lap door slams and takes the wind to make it into the chase and as last year that to me was just a big Israel and in Victory Lane when we were talking to him he said. You know this is for all those people who set I was washed up and I couldn't get it done anymore here I am look out. Yeah I talented. I love the Daytona 500 to your point we had done a couple of photo finishes two or three of them there in the first. And all the races and I think that when we look back on that this season probably had more of those exciting finish moments the Daytona 501 mandate. It doesn't get much closer in that no it doesn't and I I I think it set up for the kind of season that we had. We came in hoping for big things we got them right right away Joseph with the Daytona 500. But it didn't stop there we had close finishes like Mike who supported out. We turned around and not to long later we are in Phoenix and they are doing it again via. Yet Carl Edwards out with a real close from there to the Kevin Harvick up photo finish. It really set the tone for the season which I think you know in all the years I've been around a sport. I've got to put up there close to the very top as far as exciting finishes like that and great racing 2016. Start off good. And and finished off good as well you better have you have been around the sport for a long time matter fact that the rules book was at tablets don't tell he was actually I had they raced chariots. Number seven. Five starting thirteen annual floor and off by himself what is. That's not good tennis champion. NASCAR's extended in Camping World truck series introduce chase format a first time in his career and Johnny Sauter is a champion on the map. Our Camping World truck series here's NASCAR CEO Brian friends. We know that the way to win in the future you gotta be people you've gotta be winning you got to feel the beat at a crossroads of elimination at any given moment. And that's how we want our young drivers. Have a very early days who understand. The racing competitive style. But no better way and that the to have our championship. Formats consistent. The cup series had three years under their belt. But he series and truck series 2016. They decide they're gonna do a chase they'd your thoughts on what makes pretty serious and the structures made of Ernie chase format war. Were we not entertained. What was it not spectacular. From from start to finish we had favorites get ousted. We had underdogs advancing. We had spec. Tack give her three and four wide battles for championships we have the Ford championship contenders running first second third and fourth with forty laps to go and homestead Miami speedway. How in the world could anybody quibble with the results of the first ever truck series and Infiniti series tree. The interesting thing for me was watching these drivers adjust cut drivers having gone through this for awhile. And now all of a sudden you got these X thirty series and these truck series teams thrown into the fire watching them react to the stresses that this warrantless pretty intra it was. It was really neat because a lot of veteran drivers that really thought they knew all there was to know about how to race for championship. All of a sudden we're standing in line right alongside the rookie scratching their heads saying how the heck do we approached this new deal it was. It was very interesting to see how these teams adapted. Modify their approaches based on the fact that it's no longer just count points from February to November. What are you what are your thoughts as far as brand new chase formats for the X Hannity and structures spectacular. Fantastic. Anything you could one under there was some push back among guys saying. Will William Byron should've won because he won seven times but the best team with the best record. Doesn't always get the championship and every sport that's what playoffs are about getting hot at the right time and I think that's what this format pushed forward and we were able to see. Guys elevate their game when it was all malign and that is very compelling. I agree you know we've come into the final race of the season and both the truck series any city series before with knowing who the champions gonna be here may be it being two guys battling it out so to know. Coming into the season that Iran definitely have four different drivers in into the series. Going head to head for the championship you couldn't ask for a better ending what we've seen. From those two chase finale is I thought it was like edge of your seat exciting so I'm all for it. How cool was it to see Daniel for a as good as first truck win his first extent that he went and a championship all in the same year. I keep in mind next year we're not going to be able to see these cup guys with five years of experience participate. In the chase races like we did this year. Although we may have another situation like a coal wit deciding to put himself in front of the field late in the race that we saw kind of got some guys all jacked up there at the end of the trinity championship race. And I think that if we didn't have that type of format in let's say for the extremely serious like you mentioned that. That that last restart in Miami when call wit doesn't come up to speed and all of a sudden Eric Jones this championship hopes go down the drain and just an all tires went down the drain with them. Yeah and that's something that there's no rule you can write for something like that I mean. People have railed against these these cup guys coming down to the lower series and taken all the attention and all the money in all the trophies but we all see that next year in the chase that's going to be really fun to have the attention completely on those guys. For the top ten stories of 2016 coming out what numbers six and won't break into the top five NASCAR live rules on. If you have a question or comment about NASCAR motor racing network as a director weren't born yet it's the fan forum hotline. Can you be content toward kids this year and I wanted and now Colbert couldn't get through the white race press. I'll lend them 844. Or ask him are end and that's 84 floor floor. Ask him Mario part of their data out there are covered everything and more on the hotline. Your connection to NASCAR. Victory junction was generation driver Adam Kennedy's dream and he worked toward building a camp where children's series. Conditions to concentrate on and now your illness or disease. When he died tragically his family and friends around NASCAR made sure that dream came true. Today victory junction music camp that provides a life changing experiences. Of children deal. Disabilities and all I know it's they can't. Help books serve more chilled by visiting victory junction dot war. NASCAR's chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian France is gonna join us next Tuesday here on NASCAR live he'll be witness for the entire hour. It took questions and comments ready to go more than top ten stories or 2016 coming up this is NASCAR live on the motor racing network the voice of NASCAR. This is NASCAR live countdown of the top ten biggest stories of the 2016 NASCAR season number six. A career wedding. Five moderate Martin Truex junior is doing that that night at Darlington Martin Truex junior's historic U. One of the races everybody wants to win and so huge in Italy which came close at Daytona 500 now be sitting here and it's just unbelievable so it's. These are the races and that define drivers' careers and it's it's really neat opportunity for me. She's moving it around general Martin Truex wins the first race of the chase at Chicago land. That team obviously changing over from Chevy to Toyota in the off season they got hooked up to Joseph Gibbs racing just your general observations rusty about this season that. Martin George junior furniture row racing that I think Tim Martin Truex had just an incredible season. I actually talked to Maarten a time at our NASCAR foundation gala of the New York he sat in my table we had an opportunity to talk. Lisa this is a happy Easter I've ever been in my entire life. This car's been syllable of facets unreal lot of times when a team changes manufacturers. Yet have those growing pains that we talked about before yeah. When they made the move to Toyota it was a seamless transition and there was a marked performance improvement in the first year something we don't see a lot of yeah I guess that's where they came from with the the toll toll at all wanted to Joseph Gibbs I mean it really helped them get out of the box and fear a lot of things out. One thing they had in their corner and had a great team owner. They got a great drivers they knew they had that they they're were consistent as heck the year before with the Chevrolet Richard Childress engines and all that stuff. So now they really felt the so they can up the performance by what they saw before they agreed to do that Toyota deal Alex are you surprised how things well and Martin Truex junior everybody had him in the chase everybody having going to Miami and obviously things didn't work out the way they wanted to. Surprised. A bit because they've had so much speed week in and week out no matter what type a racetrack we went to. So there's a bit of surprise there although. You can't really be too terribly surprised because. For whatever reason there's always been this this a little shroud of bad luck that's followed that team around. They've run so well in Dominick it's so many different races this year when they easily could have won 67 races. But had one little thing hiccup on them whether it's by their own fault or more times than not by no fault of their own. To simply haven't slip away from them so. Yeah a little surprised because of the raw speed but maybe not so much because of the the trend. The thing that got funds so onerous thing about the from natural discussion we talked about them this year or like. Man this was there are big breakout season and it was from a winning standpoint but last year they were in the chase when we rip Ford championship weekend last year they weren't in the chase. What they had them with far more consistency to Alex's point they run on the go to Richard Childress racing there with a partnership of Richard Childers racing. So as I was kind of laughed when we talked about Martin Truex junior out of no where this team came to the scene this year will they were in the championship for last year. When we were racing down homestead Miami speedway but last year was on the basis of consistency that team was so rock solid they didn't have a because of what Alex of the bad law so they go out maybe win a race. But then they to have a misstep they have a problem in some of the ball problems remember the one earlier in the year where that the jet may have simply picked up a wrench Waldorf pit stop and we learned that that was a rule in the rule book. Just a lot of things that were bad block. All or miss stuff from mistakes and and ultimately with the chase format you've got to navigate through there and there are times where calls were to be flawless and they weren't able to pull that off. And number five is silly. Is the pole sitter for the 58 running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR's youth movement it's done it's over Chris pusher and gives the planner away. It's the overburden Kyle Larson Hilary comes off turn over pork. And Kyle Larson does not NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner he gets the win at Michigan International Speedway. The first of his career. In America and our art curator real nice new generation. Chase and all those guys that are gonna carry discord in the news. Intended places and invent a new audiences and this court's gonna be found as drivers continue to retired new guys coming in we guess pretty exciting guys coming in a lot of talent a lot of personality. So I'm I'm I'm thankful for features for. We for a long time had depended on the veterans to provide us moments two win races in the like 2016. I think we're Gaudin in the book says. A new generation moving into this sport and not just a generation that's there and ride around but. You've got a generation of race car driver that Kim is here to win races and they did just that. Yet they were beaten down a door talking Ryan Delanie t.s Eliot author collars and even though he's had some experience in Sprint Cup Series already and there are a number of races where. Those three were running in the top ten the top five. I'm honestly surprised we didn't see a Ryan Delaney Eric Chase Elliot wins this season because of how close they got you know chase finish second I think maybe even more than once on the so it just makes me really optimistic about what the future of the sport is gonna look like. And how about even further down where you got a guy like a William Byron who win seven times he's gonna go run full time next year junior motor sports in mixed into the series. And every owner it seems like once that that hot young up and comer to put in their car whether or not river in the old days it was yet to prove yourself that you wouldn't Tareq equipment and have a little track record in a Reza make. Before you would get the opportunity now if you show any spark at all they're ready to move you up to the next level you got Eric Jones coming into the cup series lectured to be a teammate with Martin Truex junior the future is bright. Dave we think the youth movement that year Mike you know I've been around this this silly game for a long long time I have never. And more excited about the future of our sport in terms of driving talent. Then I am right now. I remember you don't cup well okay three decades ago now. I dated as both of you were around there yeah I remember when. One net the Allison Brothers were getting ready to retire and king Richard was get a little long in the tooth and Pearson was seven back trouble. And we will worry I mean people were worried what. How is a sport gonna survive all of our greatest stars are gonna retire all at once and nobody's gonna carry anymore. And it seemed like six months later you looked around and and it was Bill Elliott. And it was Rusty Wallace and there was Darrell Waltrip and were you know a new crop of seems. It's strange to think of them as young kids anymore because are all honored me eight years old now but but but my point is this. Never in the history of our sport have there been more. Read it carelessly talented young kids trying to kick down the door them or are right now. And ridiculously young we're seeing sixteen and seventeen year old school against these thirty and forty year old and sometimes taken him to the cleaners I don't get it. What stories of 2016 made the top of our list we've got a number four and number three coming up next on NASCAR life. FaceBook and Twitter MR and is there following Mario on social media for. For all the latest happenings from the track and in NASCAR breaking news video photos a lot of races and shows us. Stats of the billions and more all along on the Marlins FaceBook and Twitter. Why sports are the one true reality entertainment. Where a single dramatic moment had become prime. In NASCAR motor racing network live broadcast elevate your senses to the sights sounds and struggles taking place on the racetrack one final lap but they'd come up. Joseph McDonald. The point you're here over the power of radios to the imagination of the listener through an end to the motor racing network. Visit Ameren dot com for an affiliate list at your local area. Find out who starts on the whole race weekends were pulled qualifying on him or in dot com and life pole qualifying from the track exclusive access from pit road. And they'll play by play from the Emery and who. Listen to NASCAR pole qualifying on Hillary and dot com and the MRN. App books a programming to update for you Friday night January 20 8 PM eastern time. Be sure to join us right here on the motor racing network for the next round of deductions into the NASCAR hall of fame it's going to be a fantastic night one. You will not want to miss more of the top ten stories of 2016 coming up this is NASCAR live on the motor racing network the voice of NASCAR. This is NASCAR live countdown of the top ten biggest stories of the 2016 NASCAR season. Number four Merck and pat it's tremendous for the series. For monster energy purple friends to continue to build. NASCAR came from its southern roots and there was a sponsor and RJ Reynolds and Winston helped. Do that. Nextel and sprint took it to the next level. Here we go again NASCAR signs monster energy as a title sponsor Kevin Harvick part of a plan as a whole NASCAR can be. In my opinion a little bit conservative and I think Marshall had a little bit of edge in this team that appears vice president of sports marketing niche Covington. Couldn't be happier that we got the deal done on behalf of all the employees of sponsoring company. I can't thank you guys we have we're really looking forward a great future together. I wanna assure them off all of our our current events or current athletes from these. The other people that we endorse network withdraw these many years that this doesn't change anything. We're gonna we're still going to be the same company we've always been. If you read SP five years ago fighter contemplated something like this have to be none never known him. Monster energy coming aboard 2017. And the big story Alex they. It was and is in will be an am grateful I am looking forward to I'm looking forward to seeing. New life new energy brought into our sport that's never a bad thing. I do think yet there is it a demographic that not only NASCAR but every professional sports trying to reach. That younger audience that younger pair buys a younger pair of ears everybody's trying to reach that across the board in the sports landscape. I think we're going to give an influx of that with our sport the onus is up to us it's up to what happens on that racetrack to keep them. Fans of NASCAR racing sub to me you know I think it's a great thing I think there's great potential the war going to have to produce as a sport. I like it through as a young company it's a lot of excitement is very vibrant it is a younger audience and when you look at the air drink energy drink company's commercial knew there so exciting. Com your army and energy drinks arm around ten years probably or fifteen years of the most and so these are new young vibrant companies and you don't worry all the sport there's just reality of it's I think they bring some really good excitement and energy into this thing I really like the fact that they're on board and who's the fellow was pretty cool its inaugural ball to Larry I don't really good. And what's interesting is Brian France talks about being fun being edgy and that's what monster brings I'm I'm sensing that. That word word back to expert to shift. In this sport maybe a generational shift but just the mindset of instead of being conservative and and being not withdrawn dole could be wrong. But now we're trying to put ourselves quote unquote out there are a little bit which ultimately will will appeal the toll different. And I think so I think when you look at extreme sports NASCAR racing is extreme but I actually should talk and 200 miles per hour three and four wide what's not extreme about that right and the good times or drivers and number one we make it look so common but when you think about it it is amazing what are drivers do it is amazing the talent they have. The endurance that they have the error of the the excitement that they bring and so when you talk about wheels and cars engines apart peach of a two hour miles brawl that's extreme that's excitement. And I think we can capital that in introduced an excitement to the new films that monsters can bring to the table. What are you are there for the press conference when the monster energy deal was announced what some here take aways from what you heard that day. Well you know we've heard a lot about them wanting to attract the younger crowd and how that's very important to the minutes one thing to say it but it's another thing to do it. A talk would monsters vice president of sports marketing these Mitch Covington and Alabama guy who loves racing his kids even race. And one of the things he kept saying was I wanna show people. Those highs and lows in the sport because I know how my kids feel when they win and when they lose and how crushing that can be your how uplifting that can be they wanna use that. Authenticity don't bottle that up and forced these guys to give you the corporate speak like we've. Had complaints about in the past here's a story back in 2008 remember when they sponsored Al Robby Gordon and NASCAR. And he had that incident where he threw his helmet and another driver and there was this collective gasp Omar. As he got to get in trouble what the sponsor gonna say. Wall monster love that that's exactly what they want. Mitch told me that's what they want fans to see and feel every week another perspective is there is more call the chief marketing officer for the company and a former president of the company said he doesn't even watched 32 TV commercials his kids don't. Monster has never produced a 32 TV commercial they reach out through social media and capitalize on those burst of excitement that their sport provides. They have on this breakup will now we've got the monster girls they got to model but will draw a young people. A number three. You know lived in that I had in Michigan which they've had this confession two I should know had a concussion from NASCAR's most popular driver Dale Earnhardt junior sideline. I'll just aren't far off but I'm runaway bay jail on veterans wanted to. Yeah are hard to do the other juniors bands played down the back. Brett you know I just won again better. Nothing else really. There's a priority is set for just getting the symptoms to. Clear and give back to feeling like yourself that solid. I'm thinking about doubled Dirk yeah argued against ass I'm Paul. Contact for junior and I look forward to being second in the swing in baton back in the garage back in the bus lot and I miss all those little. Their best part about this. Ford is of people and I just miss being around everybody and look forward to next season. Dale Earnhardt junior and having those concussion like symptoms obviously giving away to a concussion diagnosis. What boy did that dale junior's absence leaving your opinion and and also kind of opportunity to that present for a guy like Alex bona Jeff Gordon well I wanna start with the opportunity that I think that. He presented by being as transparent as he was with the concussion. And it. That that he brought to light about concussions across the board now something that yes we heard about we heard about it through the NFL and what have you but when dale. Received it in dale shared everything that he was going through a thought there was magnificent avoid obvious. We you have him stepping out of a race car for any length of time it hurts the sport. People have questions but yeah I mean Alex Bowman given the opportunity. To step in. That's a young man with a lot of talent that we may never have seen certainly to that degree if it hadn't been for the circumstances with Dale Junior. Aunt and looked down the road now is something big opens up for Alex Bowman and I think he who had the opportunity to showcase his talent. You'll look back at this is sales that's how he got clear. You know filling in for Dale Earnhardt junior won a great opportunity. But back to that they hit injury part of this look on NASCAR reacted to that they change their entire protocol how they deal with head injuries. The very much cut to a lesser degree very much like his dad. You know when he had his fatal crash at Daytona suddenly then they came out of all these big. Safety changes the Hans device and all the other features that enhance safety. In our sport. Like father like. Son in that regard the top news stories of 46 feet but coming up next on NASCAR live. And the Daytona 500. It's the race that defines legends and as the world's only motor sports stadium Daytona International Speedway as the place that we defines what a race convene. You can experience it all and witnessed the next career defining NASCAR moment. At that great American race but hurry the 2016. Race sold out so don't miss out in 2070. The Daytona 500 Sunday February 26 guaranteed your seats at 1800 pitch up or Daytona 500 dot com. 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You're not only join rusty and dale the king Richard Petty will be on board along with the Michael Waltrip and many more folks plus. The beach boys and 38 special will be there and you can enjoy their concerts booked today with the MR promo code. I going to NASCAR the cruise dot com slash MR and that's NASCAR the cruise dot com slash M or end. More the top ten stories of 2016. On the way this is NASCAR live on the motor racing network the voice of NASCAR. This is NASCAR live countdown of the top ten biggest stories of the 2016 NASCAR season number June. One of NASCAR's greatest character is Tony Stewart says goodbye. Very nasty front row view of the Daytona 500 we just heard from Jeff Gordon up liking jet in the number two position is Tony Stewart a rookie driver he's gonna have to learn real quick he's going to be in very fast company this afternoon doing what no other NASCAR Winston cup rookie has ever done. Winning three races in his rookie season his 25 start of the NASCAR Winston cup series Tony Stewart is a winner in an awesome 21 years in NASCAR and eighteen in his cup series Stewart has pledged. In the 2010 NASCAR Winston cup championship. Appreciate. All the ingredients that followed us in the years we have made it easy on him all the time but they stuck through it would. Through thick and thin with a standard 2005. Nextel cup series champion. It's Tony Stewart Tony Stewart have won for the first time as an honor. It's been a lot of fun and in my career to drive the different types of race cars and driven from. Different teams that are couldn't. And evolved to please the court is gonna win the content 0400. At com's Tony Stewart. Bill crossed the stripe in the first but his 39 career win. I still love what I do you are still loves ordered him that's why I'm excited to be an owner in the series because they get to do everything I'm doing just not driving Carson's. That part is Nina flexibility do some the other things that I wanted to use all of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Tony Stewart comes across the line victorious tonight in South Florida. What's that I would say Tony source probably a first ballot NASCAR hall of Famer. Well when we open the NASCAR hall of fame in 2010 at that time I said there were three people racing at that time if they retired vet today. Maybe eleventh 2010 their first ballot hall of famers. Jeff Gordon Jimmie Johnson Tony Stewart no doubt no doubt at that time he went on and won another incredible championship. In 2011. They knew and what they've accomplished at Stewart Haas racing. Think there's absolutely no question Tony Stewart's a first ballot hall of Famer. Market down he's eligible for the class of 2020. Don't know what David January 2001. He's going to NASCAR hall of fame in my opinion. Jeff what are your memories of Tony what are what does he bring to the sport what all be absent when he leaves the sport on man a monumental personality a monumental talent. I've always thought that Tony Stewart is arguably one of the best race car drivers in the world you know it doesn't matter. What form of race car it might be when we look at Jeff Gordon we're gonna always say that Jeff Gordon was one of the greatest stock car drivers that ever strapped into a seat. Yes he's got talent outside of a stock car but I think when you look at Tony Stewart won the personality. To the ability and shoes that I just don't think anybody will ever felt. Well you know when Jeff Gordon retired. I think we looked at and a little different way Jeff Gordon is the epitome. Of political correctness has been throughout his career there's only been maybe two or three instances where we've actually seen anger out of that driver okay. But Tony Stewart on the other hand. I think fans relate with epic LCS and fiery attitude. And he'll blast off in the course it's documented all the things he's done knock on tape recorders at a reporter's hands and you know asking. Responding to a question from one of us like that's a stupid question. I mean I think everybody relates with that a lot more. And so you nag go away is it is is really hurting. One of the stories that I remember. Very vividly I don't recall white Jiri laws one of Tonys three championship seasons we were at the Waldorf Astoria. For the awards ceremony and typically of the reporters go from driver to driver for the top ten you know and talk about your year and what you planned for next year and what it. And and Tony had answered questions for like three and a half hours nonstop. And by the time I got to him madam amassed a about the championship. And he said you know a lot he says. This is nice but he said I'm not tuxedo guy I'm not a Waldorf Astoria Geist is right now more than anything in the world I wanna be in my shop. Working on my dirt modified that's what I would rather be doing you know I like the fact that I won the championship I appreciate all this but. This is not really who I am and that speaks volumes about Sony's. These hot story of 2016. Coming up next on NASCAR life. Or less batteries are proven tough to the most extreme conditions they're just to start an honor for a degree heat or temperatures of forty below. Yeah of their of that tough so they can do that they can definitely performed for your nephew's soccer game. Work through a scattered thunderstorm will be dependable on Sunday afternoon trips to the grocery store because no matter what the weather's like it's nice to know that you've got a proven tough girl last battery under the girl asks proven tough and sold only an auto zone puts up America. Visit Tom Johnson camping world in Concord for all the good racing needs racing this savings now and save big over four. You have some stuff. America's number one RB and outdoor retailer has something for every one. Every season started at your local NASCAR headquarters would travel trailers started nearly a hundred million dollars for much. Don't know where these savings session by media said Tom Johnson Camping World and say did when your dream Barbie. Just again wanted to but we can call my by the principle defense is that's just sort of went into the water filters what was a retired to perform consistent. This is NASCAR live countdown of the top ten biggest stories of the twentieth sixteen NASCAR's season number one. And at home dad and. In making seven. Championship Jimmie Johnson ties Richard Petty and dale earnhardt's win seven championships. It's. This team never quits in a fight through all those restarts at the end and get the lead and win this race haul it in means the world to your entire hard. These guys are. Legends of our sport you're our sport may know what it is today. For guys like myself to come lining compete I'm so thankful for their legacy. For their families are dedication to sport and opportunities it's provided me in my family and he joined those guys. Man I just hope I can I can carry the banner carried it towards as they have. This is just absolutely incredible. Jimmie Johnson a seven time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Jimmie joining the ranks or Richard Petty and dale on her we knew it was coming. I frankly post I did think it was going to be 2016. Well I don't think so when numb July and August that's for sure but that has that you started to unfold you saw an owner of the race at homestead started to unfold I'm like you know what this team just keeps stopping there are staying there. And when we had that last restart I am so this years and years of Jimmy Johnson. He is such a cool calm customer but when it comes time. To win the battled on and true number one of the liberation we've seen how many races where does marriage Jeff Gordon it was America's Tony Stewart it doesn't matter for Carl Edwards. Jimmie Johnson on a green white checker. I'm telling you we talk Kevin marks the closer I'll think Jimmie Johnson and so we sought Kyle Larson have been the dominant car all day long. Bless his heart he doesn't have a shot would you be John I got my. And when Jimmy slid up in front of a muffled to our number 20 game set match it was all over. Because that guy can wheel race car. And shame on me shame on all of us shame on the sport. For basically writing Jimmie Johnson Chad to NASA team out of the championship picture. Nobody really look at them as a threat to win the championship. And here they come and do what they do best and that's win races win championships and I got a tasty it's something that the I'll never overlook again. That worked to their favor okay because the minute Jimmy became a title contender was the minute the seven time Paul started. And Jimmy said after he won that race we would Martinsville if we wanna raise their and he said I guess not all. I have to address books but prior to that so I think that keep them outside and had he been the man to beat all yearlong Whitman talking about what to retire or Djibouti. He only had to talk about a for a couple weeks and I think. That that under the radar played into their flavor to burden to their favor because they didn't need to worry about a roll up. Well in and another thing about it to his myself included I don't think any of us have really grasped. The actual history and what's actually unfolded this year and Connor we we know he's been great we know always been winning championships. It's typical to put it into perspective because it's still happening it's still unfolding he's still going to race in 2017 beyond. We don't know exactly the impact that that Jimmy seventh championship at potential eight and even more what that's gonna have until long after we stopped working and and and reflect on it. What are we talked about the successes of that Lowe's team but one thing that's largely overlooked is. The successes. And the continuity other successes over their Hendrick motors. Or the team 48 yeah it's so important to 48 team's driver. Crew chief Chad can mouse and team owner Rick Hendrick and even a sponsor Lowe's have been together for that whole ride how rare is that here's some numbers for you. Dale Earnhardt won for a fist titles over nine years with Kurt she already Richard Petty won seven all of them would dale Inman. Three of Jeff Gordon's championship at Hendrick motor sports. Rape every hand I just think chemistry is so underrated in this war there's almost a tendency to being great driver great equipment. Equals championships but it doesn't always go that way here's a quick one for you back in the summer when everybody was going what's wrong with the 48 if you're member of that. A mr. Hendrick went and pulled a 24 hour shift at the wind tunnel would disguised people said why did you do that you're given an engineer. He said I just needed to be there would my guys for moral support if nothing else I can get him coffee octagon sandwiches I just needed to be there. The point is the whole thing has to click together for those guys to be good like they have been most of the time it's huge in the forty get much relief has that going on. There you have it that top ten stories of 2016. Next week don't forget NASCAR chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian France's could stop by. If you got a question for Bryant be sure to call in next Tuesday at 1802 NASCAR starting at 7 PM eastern. He can also tweet your question at MR and radio he's hash tag ask MR ran. Thank the voices of M Moran who joined us on this show Joseph Moore jet streak old Rusty Wallace Dave Moodie Winston Kelly Steve post. Alex hazy. When he McCain and Kyl Ricky. Arrest of the NRA crew. I'm Mike back I have a safe week we'll talk to you again next week right here on NASCAR live. NASCAR live as a production of the motor racing network was studios in Concord, North Carolina and Daytona Beach, Florida. And was brought to you by Hercules tires. Ride on our story. And by Tom Johnson's Camping World America's one stop shop for all of your RB. Today's broadcast was produced by Rick Colbert head pilot Burnett the executive producer of them are end is David high. 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