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Saturday
What Did We Learn At Daytona? Nothing.
If you read or hear any media member say this week that Jimmie Johnson is on his way to a sixth title, or that Danica Patrick is a contender, or that the Gen 6 car needs to be tweaked, know one thing: they don’t have a clue. Did Jimmie win the 500? Yes. Did Danica [...] 
Friday
Looking Back At 2013 - Rating The Riders: 8th, Andrea Dovizioso, 5/10
In the eighth instalment of our series looking at 2013, we come to Andrea Dovizioso. This is how the Italian got on in his first year at Ducati. To read the rest of our reviews of last year, you can read part 1, Marc Marquez; part 2, Jorge Lorenzo; part 3, Dani Pedrosa; part 4, Valentino Rossi; part 5, Cal Crutchlow; part 6, Alvaro Bautista; and part 7, Stefan Bradl.
| Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati Factory |
| Championship position: | 8th |
| Score: | 5/10 |
After losing his factory Honda ride at the end of 2011, Dovizioso made the switch to Yamaha, joining Cal Crutchlow in the Tech 3 team. A strong year with six podiums saw him win the slot in the factory Ducati team vacated by Valentino Rossi. Dovizioso felt he deserved a factory ride, and he had got what he wanted.
That proved to be something of a poisoned chalice. The year after Ducati was taken over by Audi proved to be a year of stagnation, with new head of Ducati Corse Bernhard Gobmeier never really able to impose his authority on the race department. A lot of work was done with chassis stiffness, a new aerodynamics package was unveiled, the engine received a minor upgrade with improved throttle bodies. It all helped, a little, but the bike still had understeer, still wouldn't turn.
Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh
Thursday
JTG Daugherty forms alliance with Richard Childress Racing, moves to Chevrolet
JTG Daugherty Racing's time with Toyota is over.
The single car team announced Monday that it was forming an alliance with Richard Childress Racing and would field Chevrolets for AJ Allmendinger in 2014.
?As a single-car team, we feel that aligning directly with a successful multi-car organization like Richard Childress Racing is what will work best for us in 2014," co-owner Tad Geschickter said in a statement.
Consider it similar to the arrangement that Furniture Row Racing has with Richard Childress Racing. The No. 78, driven by Kurt Busch this year and Martin Truex Jr. next year, served in many facets as basically a fourth RCR car despite the team's shop location in Colorado.
Allmendinger and Bobby Labonte drove for JTG Daugherty in 2013, as Allmendinger drove nine races while Labonte drove in 27. Allmendinger had the team's only top 10 when he finished 10th at Watkins Glen.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
Wednesday
The Nationwide Series Is Going To Be Awesome In 2013
Thanks to a strong mix of young drivers and veterans trying to fight their way back to the top, with help from the NASCAR rule limiting drivers to one series for points, we are about to see the re-emergence of the Nationwide Series in 2013. I mean, have you seen the driver lineup? Instead of [...] 
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Tuesday
Authorities give details of Schumacher investigation
French authorities held a press conference in Albertville this morning in order to give more details of their investigation into Michael Schumacher’s accident. Although relatively little emerged, prosecutor Patrick Quincy did clarify a few points. Quincy said: “Every winter season … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2014/01/08/authorities-give-details-of-schumacher-investigation/
Monday
Steve Letarte leaving post as Dale Earnhardt Jr.?s crew chief for NBC Sports in 2015
Jeff Burton isn't the only big hire that NBC Sports has made for its coverage of NASCAR.
Steve Letarte, the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr., will step down from his post at Hendrick Motorsports and join NBC Sports for the 2015 NASCAR season. NBC picks up coverage of the final 20 races of the season from ESPN and TNT starting next season.
?I want to thank Rick Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for the opportunities they have given me over the last eighteen years, and I want to reaffirm my commitment to Dale Jr. and the entire No. 88 team to go win races and challenge for the championship in 2014,? Letarte said in an NBC statement.
Earlier Thursday, Letarte told MRN's Dave Moody that ?I will be the crew chief for the No. 88 Chevrolet in in 2014. That?s all I know right now."
Previously, NBC has announced the hire of Rick Allen, currently the play-by-play voice of the Camping World Truck Series and Burton, who is driving a part-time schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing this season.
Letarte has been the crew chief for Earnhardt Jr. since the beginning of the 2011 season. In three years, he and Junior have won at Michigan in 2012 and recorded 24 top fives and 54 top tens.
"We're looking forward to a successful year in 2014 with Steve and Dale leading the No. 88 together," Rick Hendrick said in a statement. "They have some of the best chemistry in the garage, and we know they'll build on last season and continue to be a championship-contending team."
"We don't expect to address the crew chief position until after the season. Everyone with the team is focused on 2014 and committed to having another great year."
Before serving as the crew chief for Junior, Letarte was atop the pit box for Jeff Gordon for the final 10 races of 2005 through 2010. With Gordon, Letarte won 10 races."
With the way that Junior performed at the end of the Sprint Cup Series season in 2013, he became a very legitimate title threat for the 2014 season. And any Letarte departure shouldn't change that.
Sure, it'll be reasonable to wonder about 2015 and beyond, but Hendrick Motorsports has a deep stable and a transition to a new crew chief from in-house should be fairly seamless. And besides, this could be Junior's best chance for a championship since the s-word year of 2004. First things first, Junior Nation.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
Gibbs Ultimately Owns This Penalty
Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket? If the answer’s yes, did you try telling the officer, ‘that wasn’t my intent’? Or maybe you were just a MPH or two over the limit, did you try telling him, ‘I wasn’t speeding that much’? When he got done laughing at you, did he still write you [...] 
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Sunday
2014 Superprestigio Barcelona Dirt Track Qualifying - Baker And Marquez Flying
The Superprestigio dirt track event is underway in Barcelona, and so far, the indoor event has been deemed a success. Riders are tackling the short course with enthusiasm, the organization is running the event smoothly and despite the Palau Sant Jordi not yet being open to the public, the fans wandering around have been fascinated. The only minor point is the state of the surface, the organization struggling to find the balance between damping the dust and smoothing the track, leading to one or two rough points. Things are gradually improving, with the dust now more under control.
Brad 'The Bullet' Baker is living up to his nickname, setting a blistering pace beyond what the rest can follow, though the gap is surprisingly small. In the Open class (basically, full time flat track racers), Baker leads Spaniard Dani Ribalta by a tenth of a second, with British rider Tim Neave in third, just under two tenths slower than Baker.
Saturday
Fuel Economy Tips Courtesy of Hypermilers
Hypermiling is a sensation which is sweeping the nation and becoming more and more common. In order to make your car as fuel efficient as absolutely possible, it is the act of using every little trick in the book. This can turn a relaxing drive into a stressful one since you have to pay attention […]
Source: http://www.autocarblog.co.uk/589-fuel-economy-tips-courtesy-of-hypermilers-2.html
Friday
Thursday
McLaren to reveal MP4-29 online on January 24th | 2014 F1 season
McLaren will reveal their new 2014 F1 car on January 24th, the team has confirmed.
Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/01/07/mclaren-reveal-mp4-29-online-january-24th/
Wednesday
Grand Prix of Indy, a Few Local Reactions
Road racing is on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and there were more than a few questions concerning the whole package. As the self-appointed every-mans indianpolis based indycar lifer and racing addict, I think some pedestrian opinion could be just … Continue reading 
Source: http://anotherindycarblog.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/grand-prix-of-indy-a-few-local-reactions/
Tuesday
F1 WAG: Marion Jolles
It has been easy to feel sorry for the accident-prone Romain Grosjean at times, until you remember he is married to Marion Jolles. The stunning Brunette tied the knot with Romain last year, showing that there are many perks to being an F1 star. Mrs Grosjean is also a star in own right, as news [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/xsCD9_Vm_lc/f1-wag-marion-jolles-3
Dale Earnhardt Jr. closes off strong 2013 with hope for the future
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - There was a time not so long ago when a top-20 finish for Dale Earnhardt Jr. was cause for celebration. In 2009 and 2010, he was eliminated from Chase contention by Memorial Day, looking lost and adrift.
On Sunday, Earnhardt did even more to bury those ugly days in the back yard. He finished third in the Ford EcoBoost 400, leading 28 laps. Homestead concluded a Chase in which Earnhardt finished eighth or better eight times, and he finished the season as a whole in fifth, a single point behind Kyle Busch in fourth.
"Really happy to run as well as we have this season," Earnhardt said. "This has been one of the best years I've had, certainly the best year I've had working with Hendrick."
For several years now, Earnhardt has run up front. Not in front, as that would entail winning, and wins are still hard for Earnhardt to come by these days. In fact, he finished second on five different occasions this year, a monument to determination more than futility. In all, he notched 10 top-five finishes and 22 top-10s, a level of performance that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.
"He's run so well," team owner Rick Hendrick said. "Now he's consistently in the top 5, top 3, leading laps. His confidence is at an all-time high ... You can see it in his step."
Earnhardt has raced at a good-but-not-great level for so long that the whole "he's not his daddy" comparisons are pretty much dead and gone. Of course he's not his daddy; neither is anyone else. But Earnhardt can go into the all-too-brief offseason knowing that his career continues on its upward trajectory.
"He told me tonight he can't wait to go to Daytona," Hendrick said. "I think he's got wins [ahead]. I think he's going to be a threat for the championship next year."
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter.
Monday
Surgery Update: Jorge Lorenzo And Sandro Cortese Have Metalwork Removed
The list of riders taking advantage of the winter test ban to have surgery grows longer. This week, both Jorge Lorenzo and Sandro Cortese have gone under the surgeon's knife to have metal plates removed, in preparation for the 2014 season.
For Lorenzo, surgery was done to remove the metal plate put in to fixate the collarbone he broke first at Assen, then again at the Sachsenring. Lorenzo crashed heavily on a soaking wet track during the Thursday free practice session at Assen, breaking his left collarbone. After a dash by private jet to and from Barcelona to have his collarbone plated, he raced, finishing in 5th. At the Sachsenring Two weeks later, Lorenzo crashed again the force of the crash bending the plate on his collarbone, and he had surgery once again to replace the bent plate. This time, he did not race.
Lorenzo finished the rest of the season with a plated collarbone, but to allow his collarbone to return to full strength, the Spaniard decided to have the plate removed now. While he was having his collarbone plate removed, he also had surgery on his thumb, to clean up scar tissue left from an injury in 2010.
Sunday
Saturday
It?s Your 2013 Exit Interview: No. 17 Paul Menard
Welcome to From the Marbles' 2013 driver reviews. Here, we're going to critique, praise and bloviate about the top 30 drivers in the 2013 NASCAR season. A Menard minute.
Paul, if every season has signature moments, yours had two. However, they were both explosions. That's not the best way to be remembered.
Much like the driver who finished just below you in the standings, you had a strong open to the season and it all came crashing down on you at Daytona. That was explosion number one.
Just 23 laps into the race, your engine bit the dust in a nice bit of fire and smoke. You entered that race 15th in the points standings. Because no one else had issues yet, you finished last. You left that race 20th in the standings. It was all over from there.
You did move back up to 16th, but by then the Chase was an afterthought. You needed a win or two.
The second explosion was that tire at Homestead. Rubber from a tire issue wrapped around your brake line, which started a fire in the right-rear hub of the car. And then when your crew went to change the tire and extinguish the fire, the tire on the car got so hot that it exploded. That might have been a bigger impact than the engine.
With Kevin Harvick's departure at Richard Childress Racing, you're now the longest-tenured Cup driver at the team. That takes a second to sink in, doesn't it? There were some giggles and jokes when you moved over to RCR before the 2011 season -- being sponsored by family does that to you. The Dillons can relate -- but in those three seasons, you've finished 17th, 16th and 17th. That's acceptable, isn't it?
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
Previous Reviews: No. 18 Aric Almirola, No. 19 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 20, Jeff Burton, No. 21 Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 22 Marcos Ambrose, No. 23 Denny Hamlin, No. 24 Casey Mears, No. 25 Mark Martin, No. 26 David Gilliland, No. 27 Danica Patrick, No. 28 David Ragan, No. 29 Tony Stewart, No. 30 Dave Blaney
Friday
It?s Your 2013 Exit Interview: No. 12 Kasey Kahne
Welcome to From the Marbles' 2013 driver reviews. Here, we're going to critique, praise and bloviate about the top 30 drivers in the 2013 NASCAR season.
Kasey, we're glad that it didn't take you nearly as long to get acclimated to the 2013 season as it did in 2012. However, it seems that the struggles just shifted towards the end of the season. And that meant a rough Chase.
Perhaps nothing encapsulated your Chase more than that spin at New Hampshire. You were coming off the corner and looked to have the car pointed in the right direction. But it snapped sideways on you and you found the inside retaining wall. The Chase was over within two races, and a good run was immediately canceled out by an incident.
Speed wasn't an issue at all last season; you led over 100 laps in a race four times. However, three of those times you didn't close the race out with a win. Two of those were at Charlotte, where you finished second both times. The other was at Las Vegas, where you were also second. That race you finished right behind Matt Kenseth, who you also finished second to three times.
But mixed in with all those top fives (11) was an almost equal amount of poor finishes. You finished worse than 30th nine times. Yeah, You can blame some of those on Joe Gibbs Racing too, namely Kyle Busch. Stay away from him during Speedweeks next year, OK?
That like-for-like ratio continued in the Chase -- and JGR had nothing to do with it. There were three top fives ... and two finishes worse than 30th. If you've gotten the bad juju out of the way this year, 2014 looks awfully bright. If you haven't, well, the sample size of the Chase won't be any more forgiving next year.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
Follow @NickBromberg
Previous Reviews: No. 13 Carl Edwards, No. 14, Brad Keselowski, No. 15 Jamie McMurray, No. 16 Martin Truex Jr., No. 17 Paul Menard, No. 18 Aric Almirola, No. 19 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 20, Jeff Burton, No. 21 Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 22 Marcos Ambrose, No. 23 Denny Hamlin, No. 24 Casey Mears, No. 25 Mark Martin, No. 26 David Gilliland, No. 27 Danica Patrick, No. 28 David Ragan, No. 29 Tony Stewart, No. 30 Dave Blaney
Thursday
The latest from Grenoble
Doctors treating Michael Schumacher at the CHU in Grenoble say that he is in a more stable condition today after undergoing a second operation during the night. This highlighted the unstable state of the situation as yesterday the surgeons said that they did not envisage a second intervention. Once again the operation was deemed necessary […]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/12/31/the-latest-from-grenoble/
It?s Your 2013 Exit Interview: No. 28 David Ragan
Welcome to From the Marbles' 2013 driver reviews. Here, we're going to critique, praise and bloviate about the top 30 drivers in the 2013 NASCAR season. David Ragan, it's your turn.
David, thanks for stopping by today. We're going to cut to the chase -- that's lowercase, by the way, we'll get to the final 10 races of the season in a moment.
That Talladega win of yours was one of the most dramatic races of the season. Maybe it was the delay, maybe it was impending darkness, or maybe it was simply the drive of yours and David Gilliland's to charge to the front and win the race. That was one of the best NASCAR moments of the year.
Plus, it gave your team its first taste of success and we're proud of that too. It's always great when different departments have great achievements, and we understand the jealous that can happen when certain other departments are seemingly celebrating every week. We apologize for being unable to regulate the budgets across the board.
Now let's talk about the Chase. Your engine group really let you down in three of the final four races and it's unfortunately reflecting in this exit interview. Of course, we know that it's not your fault and we're going to grade you accordingly -- you can't drive a car competitively without a working engine. However, we'd be doing this a couple days later if it wasn't for that.
You seem very comfortable at Front Row and we're glad to see that you want to continue with the team for another season. They seem to like you around and there's potential. Your qualifying efforts were starting to look up and until Martinsville, the engine department was pulling its weight. And we're also glad that you're going to be able to represent your team at the All-Star function next May because of that Talladega win. We know you're really looking forward to that.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
Previous Reviews: No. 29 Tony Stewart, No. 30 Dave Blaney
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