By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Is there a European race car driver who is more of a fan of American racing than two-time Formula One champion and 2017 Indianapolis 500 darling Fernando Alonso?
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Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson is sure there isn’t. 

Alonso proved it to the American racing star during the NASCAR Media Tour at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He made it a point to meet Johnson, who was humbled by the experience.

“I’ve been a huge Alonso fan for a lot of years,” Johnson said. “Just mentioned to him that the way he came and ran Indy, I mean, certainly did an amazing job in the car, but outside the car … he brought a lot to the table when he raced here.”

Alonso stopped at the Charlotte Convention Center with his teammates who raced in the Rolex 24-hour road course race at Daytona International Speedway.

“I first became a fan through the NASCAR video games,” said Alonzo of Johnson. “I would always choose his car (No. 48) because I liked it. That was the first time I became a fan and obviously with the success he’s had over the years in motor racing, he’s become a legend in our sport. I have massive respect for him.”

Johnson was taken aback by Alonso’s desire to meet him.

“I’m honored I found out that one of his major stipulations of coming here (Charlotte) was to have a chance to meet me; that means the world to me,” Johnson said. “It was an honor to meet him.”
Alonso expressed a desire to compete in the Cup race on the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Retired two-time Brickyard 400 winner Dale Jarrett was among the drivers for media passengers last month in Toyota Camrys on the 2.26-mile Roval road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Jarrett offered that it will be challenging for drivers as there are few places to pass and a couple of blind corners. 

He gave a heartfelt presentation during the induction of the late famed engine builder Robert Yates into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Yates, who was 74 when he died in October, wrote his induction letter, which Jarrett read to the audience and members of Yates’ family.
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Jarrett won the Brickyard 400 in 1996 and ’99 and was the Cup champion in ’99. The team is credited with the winner’s tradition of kissing the bricks.

Two-time Brickyard 400 winner Kyle Busch expressed his dislike of NASCAR’s publicity of up-and-coming drivers in its Cup Series.

The outspoken 2015 Cup champion contended that veterans are being overlooked in favor of young chargers like Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Bubba Pollard, William Byron and Busch’s teammates, Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez.

“We (veterans) have paid our dues,” Busch said. “All you’re doing is advertising all these younger drivers for fans to figure out and pick up on and choose as their favorite driver. I think it’s stupid.”

While making his remarks about the newer drivers, Busch apparently forgot the he was part of Gillette’s Young Guns commercials and a subject of an A&E network special during his first few years in Cup.
Other drivers took quick notice of Busch’s comments.

Two-time Brickyard 400 winner Kevin Harvick said Busch was “whining for attention.” Second-generation driver Ryan Blaney explained that “he (Busch) doesn’t like doing a lot of stuff; that’s why they don’t ask him.”

The younger drivers also utilize social media to connect with fans.

Busch also expressed his displeasure of sharing information with teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing or seeing team data fed into a NASCAR data bank.
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He did praise ex-teammate Matt Kenseth, who could not land a ride this season, for helping him reach the final three races in The Chase for three straight years.

SUBMITTED PHOTO
Defending NASCAR Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. has a knack for going fast on the track and getting to the track in his Beechjet 400A. Truex is a spokesman for Garmin, which has supported the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation for underfunded cancer initiatives related to ovarian and childhood cancers.

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Defending Brickyard 400 winner Kasey Kahne admitted that he was the most exhausted he had ever been after capturing the 400-mile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Totally exhausted,” Kahne said during the NASCAR Media Tour at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “I’ve been pretty bad after some races, but not at that level. It was tough. I don’t think I’ve ever been that dehydrated for sure. I was so worn out (because) of how hot it is.”

Kahne’s latter comment is one of the reasons that drivers welcome the new date of Sept. 9. The 400 is the final event to determine the 16-driver field for The Chase. 

“Moving the race will give the fans an opportunity to enjoy it without the heat,” Kahne said. “The cars were hot; it was so hot and humid outside. So to move it and hopefully give some of these fans  trying to watch a NASCAR race an opportunity to maybe enjoy it. I think it’s a good thing.”

Kahne said he believes that drivers who have not qualified for The Chase won’t be at a disadvantage because the setups at Indy are similar to Richmond (Va.) Speedway, which previously held the last race to set the field for The Chase. 

The 400 was Kahne’s only Cup win last year in his final season with Hendrick Motorsports. He was replaced by rookie William Byron.

“To win Indy was nice,” Kahne said. “I’d been close there since I came into the sport, for whatever reason. … Every year we’ve been in the mix. So to finally win it was a great feeling. I’ll carry that win forever because that will be one of my biggest wins I get in racing.”

Kahne searched for a team and wound up with much smaller Leavine Racing and the No. 95 Chevrolet. The team utilizes Richard Childress Racing chassis and Childress Earnhardt Racing engines.  He goes into the Daytona 500 with the new Camaro ZL 1

He is unfazed by being with his smallest team since Team Red Bull.

“I love every break that I’ve had in this sport and the opportunities that I’ve had to be part of it for so long,” Kahne said. “And again this year, it’s the same thing. I have a great opportunity.”

The three-time Coca-Cola 600 winner is in his 15th Cup campaign and has had 18 wins and 21 poles in more than 500 starts. The 2004 NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year continues to be among the series’ most poplar drivers.

With so many young drivers competing, Kahne said he believes there are kids who have the same dream that he had of becoming a full-time driver. He recalled being a kid with that same desire. He and his dad on Sundays would get up early, eat breakfast, turn the TV on at 9 a.m. (West Coast) and watch races.

Kahne has raced for the top owners, including the late Robert Yates, Ray Evernham, Richard Petty and Rick Hendrick.

Kahne continues to own a World of Outlaws winged sprint car team with drivers Daryn  Pittman and Brad Sweet. Kahne and Pittman won the 2013 WoO title. Kahne plans to race in the first five WoO races in Florida and about 20 more races throughout the season. He also owns USAC midget and sprint cars teams.

“I wish there were more people that were involved and intrigued by it (NASCAR) and wanted to be part of it,” Kahne said. “I wish we could get back to that for the excitement level, but I still think the racing is very good. It’s super competitive.”
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Kahne is optimistic he can be competitive even with a small team. 

SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY

The NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., features Lightning McQueen from “Cars,” with background on the vehicles in the animated movies that were inspired by various NASCAR personalities. Artists sketches for the movies are part of the display. Among the personalities included Paul Newman, Louise Smith, NASCAR’s first woman driver, car builder Smokey Yunick and ESPN’s Shannon Spake. 

The hall also features the trophy clock that Ron Hornaday Jr. won in the 2000 Busch Series race at Lucas Oil Raceway, previously Indianapolis Raceway Park, in Brownsburg. 

It is part of a display honoring four-time NASCAR truck series champion Hornaday, who was inducted into the hall earlier this year. He is the first West Coast and truck series driver to be inducted.