SI.com: Mark Beech

Mark Beech: Committed to being the bad guy, Busch takes on Stewart

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:33:58 EDT

All right, get ready for my two cents.

Mark Beech: Red Bull may already regret switching to Scott Speed

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:09:58 EDT

I first caught Scott Speed's act last January, when I was in Charlotte for NASCAR's annual preseason media tour. It was an evening Red Bull event, and Speed addressed the press from a comfy couch, wearing shades and a button-down shirt open to about mid-torso. The California native, who was coming off of a two-year stint on the F1 circuit (where he went winless in 28 starts), seemed very conscious of projecting a laid-back vibe, greeting the media with, "What up, dog?"

Mark Beech: RCR tries to stay competitive as economy takes a toll

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:34:47 EDT

These are tough days at Richard Childress Racing. Last November at Texas, I met with Childress to discuss the state of the U.S. economy and its impact on NASCAR. Something that he said -- really, something that he kept hammering home -- during our conversation recently occurred to me while I was perusing the current standings (no RCR driver ranks higher than 15th).

Mark Beech:Hot heading to Infineon, Montoya needs consistency

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:54:12 EDT

Don't look now, but Juan Pablo Montoya is currently 14th in the Sprint Cup standings, just 43 points out of the 12th and final spot in the Chase. He's also one of the hotter drivers on the circuit, having run off two straight top-10 finishes, giving him four in his past six races. In other words, NASCAR's highest-profile open-wheel convert could be on the verge of making a major jump in the standings with a victory this weekend on the road course at Sonoma, the sight of his first career Cup win and one of his favorite tracks on the circuit.

Mark Beech: Busch's personality overshadows his considerable talent

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:49:10 EDT

What to make of Kyle Busch and his Nashville Guitar Smash (which hereafter shall be referred to as the NGS)? Well, first of all, I think I know what effect Busch was going for. Probably something like this. Or maybe even something like this. In other words, he wanted an iconic image that would befit his bad boy reputation, and would also be cool at the same time.

Mark Beech: Five lessons from the Belmont

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:29:38 EDT

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Here are my five quick thoughts following a stirring, if anticlimactic, Belmont Stakes.

Mark Beech: As NASCAR tries to improve racing, Biffle urges caution

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:46:24 EDT

So NASCAR is going to go with double-file restarts in the Cup series. Good for them. The new rule should make for some interesting racing over the next few weeks, and especially in the Chase. I worked with my colleague Lars Anderson last week on a piece that he wrote for the magazine about how NASCAR can improve the quality of its racing. Double-file restarts was one recommendation.

Mark Beech: Five things we learned at Dover

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:15:47 EDT

1. Jimmie Johnson is a strong bet to win a fourth-straight Cup. How thoroughly did Johnson dominate at Dover today? Let us count the ways: his driver rating was a perfect 150.0; he led a race-high (and career-best) 298 of 400 laps; after a bobbled tire change on pit row shuffled him from first all the way back to ninth with 33 laps left, he charged to the front with bloodless efficiency, catching a game Tony Stewart with three laps left to go. Johnson and his team already look to be in Chase-winning trim.

Mark Beech: Busch says what others won't -- maybe Junior is the problem

Fri, 29 May 2009 12:00:28 EDT

So, the inevitable has happened; Tony Eury Jr. has been replaced as the crew chief for his cousin, Dale Earnhardt Jr. After Little E's 40th-place finish at Charlotte last Monday, there was really no way for team owner Rick Hendrick to get around the fact that something had to change with the No. 88 team. The car has finished 20th or worse in five of the past six races, and in seven of 12 overall. Junior now ranks 19th in points and is all but assured of missing the Chase.

Mark Beech: NASCAR takes a beating as Mayfield circus continues

Fri, 22 May 2009 12:18:56 EDT

Two weeks after NASCAR suspended Jeremy Mayfield indefinitely for failing a random drug test, the star-crossed Cup driver appears to be girding himself for a legal showdown with the lords of racing. After initially saying that he planned to work with NASCAR to clear the matter up, Mayfield -- with a microphone and cameraman in tow -- showed up in the infield at Lowe's Motor Speedway last Saturday to watch the All-Star Race.