We saw plenty of action during the first weekend of racing in Charlotte.  Hopefully we will see more of the same this weekend for the Nationwide and Cup races.  But unil the cars hit the track, we’ve got another round of your questions to answer.  If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here.  So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send one to us.  On to the questions…

1. From Steve:

We see and hear of mistakes being made during pit stops and elsewhere (lug nuts falling off, the 48 having a brake line mounted in the wrong place) and I’m sure we hear only a fraction of what takes place.  Question: is there an unwritten standard for determining when someone loses their job?  For example, does a tire changer get a certain number of misses before getting fired?  Are some other types of mistakes the ‘one and done’ variety, and if so, what might be an example?  I can’t imagine that morale would be good if everybody was on pins and needles, afraid that the next mistake got them fired… But neither is it good if everybody is complacent and takes a ‘oh well, let’s get it right next time’ approach.

Steve, first let me apologize about this question.  I should have answered it a few weeks ago, but it got lost in the shuffle in my inbox.  Anyway, the problem with this business is there really is no standard.  Each team, and within each team, each crew chief and pit crew coach has their own rules.  I’ve seen guys get fired over one small mistake, and I’ve seen others keep their jobs even though they continually screw up.  It does make for a very uneasy feeling, and can make you feel as though you are constantly trying out.  This is a performance based business, and if they think you can’t get it done, they will find somebody who will.  Some guys can deal with that pressure, and others can’t. - T.C.

2. From windowlicker:

What happens if during qualifying, half the field have made their attempt & then the rain starts & doesn’t stop until race day & NASCAR can’t get the remainder of the field in? How do they line up? Are there any obvious advantages/disadvantages between the cars who made their attempt & those who didn’t?

In those situations they set the field by points. NASCAR actually did this in the Truck Series race this past week. About half the trucks went out and then they called the race due to rain. It can be good and bad. If enough cars go out it can give you some idea of where your competition stands. On the bad side there are always those variables like wrecking or blowing up. For the most part though it is not really an advantage or disadvantage either way. - Journo

3. From Jim:

Far as I know I’ve seen all of the Q&A columns through the link at Jayski’s.  First time for a question also.  How many questions do you get a week and what happens to the ones that there isn’t enough room for?  I remember Inside Winston Cup used to answer 1 or 2 questions a week from the fans. But they must have gotten thousands of questions a week.  So that got me wondering about here as well.

We thankfully don’t get that many questions so we are able to answer every one that is sent to us. That is unless I put together the post and forget to add several of them; which I did a few weeks ago. - Journo

4. From Ric:

There are several crew chiefs on radio / TV / etc. talking about things to watch for in the upcoming race, things that are unique at that track, etc.  Do other crew chiefs watch / listen to what they say hoping to find something new / something they missed, or is it more of a DUH for them?

When you’re a crew chief, by the time you get to that point you are probably experienced enough that you don’t need to hear what everyone else is looking for because you are probably looking at the same things. I’m sure to some extent they pay attention to what is being said, but most of these guys have extensive notes on the tracks they go to from prior tests and prior races so it is not really necessary. - Journo

5. From Ben:

Just got done watching the All Star Race and I have a few questions. When Brad Keselowski’s crew was introduced one of the tire changers was Kyle Petty. Was that the driver Kyle Petty or just a different Kyle Petty?  Then when Bobby Labonte’s crew came out, a woman came out first but I didn’t see her name so I’m not sure if she was part of the crew or not, so my question is are there any women who are part of the over the wall crews?  And lastly is Chocolate Meyers still a part of any over the wall crews? And if not is he a part of any team?

That is a different Kyle Petty.  He’s been a changer for a while in all three of NASCAR’s top series.  There aren’t any women on Bobby Labonte’s pit crew, but there are women who have gone over the wall.  The one I knew about in the past was Nicole Addison, who was a tire changer in the Truck Series.  And no, Chocolate is no longer on a crew.  He does however have a radio show on Sirius satellite radio called “Tradin’ Paint.” - T.C.

6. From Woogeroo:

I had a thought about these CUP drivers who run the partial schedules in the other series.  It is about how they get paid… I know each driver gets different deals based on past records and greatness, marketability, etc.. I was just curious in general terms how that works for a driver running only a few truck races. I’m guessing they are getting more than just a percentage of the purse.

Most drivers will get a flat fee, plus a percentage of the winnings.  Obviously the higher your status as a driver is, the more leverage you are going to have in terms of what you ask for in return. - T.C.

7. From BB:

Firstly, I just wanted to let you guys kow that this blog has really come into its own; it is now the first one that me and a whole bunch of guys here read first. The depth and opinions are great……Anyway I was just wondering if there has been any news about the future of MWR in general and how likely Michael is to stay in the 55 next year. If not,  any ideas on who may take that ride? I would think someone who is pretty media-friendly, as they would have big shoes to fill in that regard. They really have come a long way, and but for some bad luck all their cars would be right up there. Thanks,and keep up the great work.

Michael started out the season strong, but has hit a wall lately. What that means for the future I don’t know. I agree with you the team is definitely improved. David Reutimann and Marcos Ambrose have really hit their stride and they look good. Reutimann is only 39 points out of the top-12. If Michael does leave, barring any kind of left field free agent signing (i.e. should Martin Truex or Kurt Busch leave their present teams and look elsewhere), I think Michael McDowell might be a candidate for the car. He is just a tick out of the top-10 in the Nationwide Series points and despite a rough time last season looks much improved. Remember McDowell came pretty much straight from ARCA into the Cup Series with a team that was still working through their own kinks. I think McDowell has the potential to do very well in the Cup Series. And with one season of Nationwide Series racing under his belt, they may deem him ready to go. That’s just speculation though. - Journo

8. From Dan:

With Joey Logano being picked as the fan favorite for the Allstar Race one wonders if the fact that Home Depot being highly visible during pre-race and race if that may not have had something to do with the choice. I don’t know if the actual results of voting are available anywhere for viewing. I’m not trying to be a conspiracy theorist here, but sure does make one wonder.  Nascar is good at creating that.  Not saying Logano wasn’t capable but thought there were others who were just as deserving.(ie, Allmendinger, Reutimann, Truex) Your thoughts. Thanks.

I don’t believe putting Logano into the All Star race was the result of some secret NASCAR/Home Depot marketing plan.  I just think it was a coincidence.  I don’t think you can say any driver was more deserving over another either.  Logano was just as deserving as Truex, Allmendinger, Montoya, or Robby Gordon.  Logano did finish fifth in the Showdown, and went on to finish 8th in the All Star race.  And 8th was better then both the drivers that raced their way in.  Sounds like he deserved it to me. - T.C.

Just as a side note NASCAR does update the teams very generally throughout the week on where their drivers stand to drum up support and traffic. They don’t give specific numbers though. - Journo

9. From Grover:

Hi guys, how do you get to the track on race day?  I’m sure you guys have to be there a few hours prior to green flag.  But at most tracks even 5 hours to green flag is bumper to bumper.

We drive in just like all the fans do.  And we get stuck in race traffic just like the fans do.  Our only saving grace is that we have to be at the track a lot earlier then most people, and we don’t get to leave until much later. - T.C.

Another side note. Some teams actually have parking strategies at tracks and refuse to park on the infield so they don’t get stuck. - Journo

10. From Bobby#7Fan:

Kyle Busch intentionally took out Colin Braun while Colin was leading the truck race.  The “tail end” rough driving penalty was a joke.  Am I the only one this infuriates????  Nascar claims they need cup drivers to pull in viewers.  I am no longer going to watch the truck series.  It’s a joke.  A young driver trying to make his name known and move up was leading and he was put into the wall by a jackass from cup.  When is Nascar going to wake up and see the cup drivers are killing the lower series?

While I don’t know if I can say Busch wrecking Braun was intentional, I do agree with you that it was a ridiculous move on his part.  The penalty for rough driving is NASCAR’s discretion, and no matter what they do, they can’t please everyone.  I do think it’s unfair to say you won’t watch the Truck Series anymore though.  I think the idea that everyone has about NASCAR needs the Cup drivers in the lower series is a bit of a misnomer.  NASCAR doesn’t ask Kyle Busch to come race in the NNS and Truck Series, he does it because he wants to race.  Condemning the rest of the series for that isn’t fair.  There is a ton of good racing in the CWTS, and I think you would be missing out if you tuned out for that reason. - T.C.

11. From Ella:

Why aren’t the usual pre-race activities scheduled for this Friday at Lowe’s?  Practice and qualifying for the cup cars are on Thursday, a day early.  I know there is probably an obvious answer to this but this lady is clueless.

You know I honestly have no idea what the historical precedent behind this is. I too am clueless on this one. If anybody does know the answer to this please feel free to respond in the comments below. Sorry on this one Ella - Journo

And that brings yet another “Ask The Insiders Wednesday” to a close.  Thanks to everyone who sent in questions.  And remember, if you’d like to be a part of next week, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send your question in!