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This week, the Cup and Nationwide championship battles head to Phoenix. The races are still tight, so expect the unexpected. As the season ticks away, we’ve got the 151st Ask The Insiders Wednesday. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer 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:
Last weekend was yet another one that makes NASCAR look bad. It rained on Friday so they moved practice to Saturday and cancelled qualifying. I’m sorry but it was not fair to anyone, Chase or not, to not have qualifying. Carl Edwards did not earn the pole and did not deserve to be on it. I think that they should have run qualifying and if time was left then a short practice. Especially with how fast they can do that at Martinsville. Your thoughts?
You can’t just throw the cars on track for qualifying without some sort of practice session. And with trying to get the Truck race in, there just wasn’t enough time on Saturday to get it all done. There is nothing wrong with setting the field by points, because everyone knows in advance what the rules are if qualifying is rained out. That’s part of the advantage of running well and being high in the points. – T.C.
2. From SteveBinColo:
First, I am a MWR fan. Now, what the heck is going on over there? I like the addition of Clint Boyer. He is arguably a step up from Truex and Reutimann. He probably did not have much of a choice as to where he would go. But why the sudden switch to Mark Martin and MW himself running the #00 next year? Did they lose sponsorship from Aarons? And I thought Reuitmann signed a 3 year deal. So much for that contract. I started following Waltrip when he drove for DEI. If Dale Sr. thought he was good enough that was a pretty good endorsement, IMHO. But MWR has never been more than an also ran team. Its been a disappointing few years. They never seem to be able to recover from mishaps. I often see the top drivers, JJ or Gordon have an issue early in the race but manage to recover over the course of the race. MWR never seems to have that skill. So really, what is the scoop with this organization? MWR seems to be on the same path as the team owner. 500+ races and 4 wins.
I can’t really give you a whole lot of insight, but I think it’s clear that MWR saw what it needed to see out of Reutimann and decided Martin, even part-time, was the better prospect. Consider too the possibility that the sponsor was ready for a change. Waltrip intimated that because of Reutimann’s less than stellar performance this season they had an out in his contract. The team isn’t running very good equipment, and their drivers are at best retreads. They knew what they were getting out of Reutimann and Truex, and they know what they’re going to get with Bowyer. The team has potential, it always did, but it seems to lack some long-term vision. – Journo
3. From Lost in Texas:
Got to wonder about MWR. The company started off with a cheating scandal for their first race at Daytona. Now the windshield caper. They are cutting loose Reutimann after years of loyal service to both DW and MW. I just don’t get it. Can you give me some “Insider” information about what is going on and why MW has let another cheating scandal hit his organization? Also, any idea where Reutimann might end up. Figured he’d be the next Aaron’s spokes person.
See question 2. I don’t know where Reutimann will end up – if he’ll end up anywhere. This is unfortunately a very bad time to be a racecar driver and out of a job. As to the winshield thing, I’ll say MWR could stand to be a little less sloppy with their cheating, but everybody does it. – Journo
4. From Steve:
I know I probably can’t get two questions in one week but here goes. What do you think of the current points system? The guy in first just runs laps and plays it safe week in week out. The guy in second has won 3 out of the 7 races. Whats wrong with this picture? The chase will be worthless until NASCAR makes winning a priority, not playing it safe. How sad that the points leader isn’t even trying to win a race.
I don’t think it’s fair to say Carl Edwards is “playing it safe.” You don’t run as well as he is by “playing it safe.” I also don’t think you can say Edwards isn’t trying to win a race. Consider Edwards is averaging a 5.6 finish through the Chase, while Stewart is averaging a 7.3. What we need to decide is what is the most important thing is – do we want the best, most consistent driver to win the championship or the driver with the most wins, who sometimes is not the driver with the best season. - Journo
5. From Jim:
Here we go again.. Nascar making rules up as they go along. And this why the mainstream media, the sports media and the general sports fan will NEVER take Nascar seriously. First they let their major league stars play in their minor leagues. Can you imagine if Derek Jeter were allowed to compete with local triple A team when he wasn’t on the field for the Yankees? Then to top if off, when the major leaguer has a run in with one of the minor leaguers he is suspended from the major league event?? Had this been Edwards or Hamlin, or god forbid ol Jr boy himself the outcome would have been totally different and everybody knows it including Mike Helton and the rest of Nascar. But because it was the guy everybody loves to hate it made it an easy call and more disturbingly, a popular call for Nascar. I have been a Nascar fan for over 40 years and will continue to be a fan but its this kind of rules making on the fly behavior that makes me keep my fandom to myself for fear of being ridiculed by others that I know and meet.
I think the issue here is not about rules making, but about what you perceive as inconsistent penalties. The thing to remember with these type of issues is that you could never write a specific rule or penalty to address every situation. It’s the same for every sport – it’s up to Roger Goodell’s discretion how players are penalized for on and off field conduct issues in the NFL (Goodell does it under the player conduct policy, NASCAR does it under rule 12-4-A) and David Stern can fine NBA owners if he doesn’t like what they tweeted (and he does). Nothing spelled out, just discretion. If Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin or Carl Edwards had the history of incidents that Kyle Busch does I don’t have a doubt you would have seen NASCAR react in a similar fashion (see Kevin Harvick suspended in 2002). I’m sorry you’re embarrassed about being a NASCAR fan, but there are limits to the omniscience of the sanctioning body. – Journo
6. From Chris:
Hey guys, I’ve noticed from a few in-car shots that some drivers wear a piece of fabric that hangs down from their helmet around the neck area (specifically, I noticed that Harvick and Keselowski have them). What is this and what is the purpose? Thanks as always!
That piece of fabric is fire resistant and protects the driver’s neck in the event of a fire. Some guys wear full balaclavas, and others just have that extra fabric attached to their helmets. – T.C.
7. From Nolan:
Since when does NASCAR allow rookies to replace drivers that have already qualified for the race? The series rule against Kevin Conway doing it in 2010, while it allowed Josh Wise to replace Michael McDowell at Texas this past weekend?
Sorry Nolan, but I don’t recall the situation with Conway in 2010. If I had to guess, I would imagine he wasn’t allowed to race because he wasn’t approved for the specific track. But I don’t know for sure. – T.C.
8. From Neil:
Hi guys,love the blog! I was just wanting to ask what the rules are for entry onto pit lane during any incidents on the frontstretch or by cars involved in wrecks,cutting directly to their pit stalls and not passing the correct side of the committment cone? I ask after this weekends Texas race when the 48 car brought out the caution and spun through the infield,he then cut straight from the infield grass to his pit stall and (correct me if I’m wrong!) didnt incur any penalties? Also during wrecks at the faster tracks that dont have an infield pit wall,can and do drivers get penalised for using pit road as a wreck avoidance road while they are at speed? Or is it at “Nascars discretion”. Thanks again for your awesome insights into my favourite sport.
I believe he did receive a penalty from NASCAR. The post race report lists the #48 as having to start at the tail end for a commitment cone violation and pitting before pit road is open. As to your second question, NASCAR has said in the past that drivers can use pit road to avoid being involved in a wreck. – T.C.
9. From Neon:
Do you TNInsiders and us followers actually eat, or don’t eat, M&Ms because Kyle Busch is, or might not be, the driver of the JGR #18 M&Ms Toyota Camry Sprint Cup driver? Or drive, or not, a Camry for that matter?
Whether or not you buy a product because of the driver representing it isn’t really the point is it? It’s whether or not the driver is representing a brand in a manner consistent with the expectations of said brand. – Journo
10. From Chris:
Will Stewart-Haas Racing find another Sponsor & a Driver to Run Danica Patrick’s Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet for the whole entire 2012 Sprint Cup Series Season?
While Stewart-Haas has been on a bit of a roll signing up new sponsors over the last few weeks, don’t hold your breath on this one. Anything is certainly possible, but I would expect the #10 to just run in the races its scheduled with Danica. – T.C.
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!
Only a few short weeks remain in the 2011 season. And what’s great, is we have three very close championship battles to enjoy. A lot can and will happen between now and the checkered flags in Homestead. As another week rolls along, we’ve made it to the 150th edition of ATIW. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer 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 George:
This may be a pretty basic question, but here goes anyway. When a driver says he “took care of his stuff” over the first part of a race so that he could go hard at the end, what exactly does he mean? I understand that you need to try to keep your fenders straight and not use up your tires too early after a pit stop, but I’d be curious if there is more to taking care of your “stuff” than this. Thanks and great site.
Don’t forget about brakes and the engine. Except for the superspeedways, brakes are used at nearly every track, and they have a finite life. They can certainly be used up easily. Also, abusing the engine can mean both puting strain on the components and not being prudent about fuel mileage. – T.C.
2. From Dan2:
Concerning water bottles being tossed out of cars during races, why don’t the drivers just leave them in the car after they’re empty? I know they have a holder and need a place to put full bottles.Okay everything should be nailed down inside in case of a crash, but what harm would an empty plastic water bottle do laying in the car? Couldn’t bottles be mistaken for other debris on the track at times causing cautions when tossed out? Remember the roll bar padding incident years ago? I believed it involved Jimmy Spencer and a caution flag.
You don’t want water bottles rolling around in the car and risk them getting stuck under a pedal or in a position that affects the driver and driver safety. It’s certainly possible that they could bring out a caution and I’m sure if NASCAR felt it was intentional the driver could be penalized. – Journo
3. From George:
NASCAR should have seen and heard Knaus tell Johnson to wreck his car if he won. Why don’t they check Jimmy’s car after the race. Is it they didn’t want to find anything wrong? This was seen and heard on Race Buddy before the race.
George do you think NASCAR has the capability to monitor the radio traffic of 43 cars for 3-5+ hours on Sunday? NASCAR certainly does monitor radio traffic, but it’s just not feasible for them to do it for every team at every moment all weekend. I assure you there is no great conspiracy and NASCAR has no great interest in seeing Jimmie Johnson win another championship or race. – Journo
4. From Chris:
When Danica Patrick takes the Green Flag in the 54th Daytona 500 in 2012,Will she be the first Woman to Race in Both the Indianapolis 500 & the Daytona 500 since she has Raced in 7 Indianapolis 500s?
Nope… Janet Guthrie competed in the Indy 500 in 1976 and the Daytona 500 in 1977. – Journo
5. From Woogeroo:
When the drivers get the wave around for staying out or the lucky dog/free pass…. and they pass the pace car and go around to line back up… with the electronic scoring, is that necessary? Just curious, I know they’ve always done it that way… just wondering why they still do it that way. Tradition or technology?
I’m not totally familiar with NASCAR’s timing and scoring system, but I don’t know that they have the ability to make changes to a car’s position with the click of a mouse. It may still need to be done by sending the car back around the field. – T.C.
6. From Ann:
Which race in what year holds the record for the largest number of DNFs? and in that race how many started the race? and who won? thanks!
I have absolutely no idea. I can tell you as a related fun fact, the spring race at Talladega in 1973 had 43 DNFs out of a 60 car field. David Pearson won that race. – Journo
7. From Christopher:
At martinsville i saw an official with a stop/go sign at the end of pit road. And actually stopped kurt busch after he pitted. Why should anyone have to stop after a pit stop? Did he lose positions?
That official is there to hold cars when it’s not clear to reenter the racing surface. The driver is held until there is an opening on track. It’s not generally a problem at big tracks with aprons – it’s an issue at a place like Martinsville though. – Journo
8. From AKS:
I recall seeing a 2011 NASCAR Cup standings list if there had been no Chase. Is this the site that has it? If not, do you know of such a site?
I apologize AKS, but I’m not aware of such a list on any website at this time. Maybe a reader has seen one? - T.C.
9. From CJ:
Hey guys, really enjoy the inside info you have to offer! Does Roush Fenway have any sponsorship at all for Kenseth? Or for that matter will Red Bull even be in the sport as a sponsor next year?
We’ve heard that Roush Fenway has possibly pieced together about half the season for Kenseth, but there is nothing definitive. Jack Roush has said they will run the #17 for the entire season regardless of sponsorship. Also, at this point there is nothing to suggest that Red Bull will be back in any capacity next season. There have been a few rumors here and there, but nothing really substantive. – T.C.
10. From Rose:
Hello! At this past Sunday’s Tum’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville, there were 18 cautions for 108 laps (stat provided by NASCAR.com). Brian Vickers, driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, accounted for 6 of those cautions. At what point does NASCAR just black flag such a reckless driver? Why let him continue to spin or wreck others? Also, I do think that Jimmie Johnson earned each of his 5 Cup championships. But I can’t shake the feeling now that Knaus cheats in some way, especially after his instructions to Jimmie at Talladega to wreck the car if they win so that NASCAR officials won’t find any discrepancies in the height of the car. Just saying…
It really depends on whether or not NASCAR decides he did it on purpose. For Vickers, in most of the cases, his incidents could be considered just racing accidents. It is Martinsville we are talking about after all. In regard to Chad Knaus, you can be sure he does everything he can to give Jimmie the best possible chance to win. He’s certainly been caught for cheating in the past. – T.C.
11. From Tom:
Sorry if this has been asked before. How does Nascar go about handing out restrictor plates for the teams? And will EFI be handled the same way? Thanks in advanced guys, this site rocks….
The restrictor plates are actually chosen at random by the teams in full view of the entire garage. The holes are then checked by a NASCAR official using a gauge and then the plate is installed and sealed to prevent tampering. I would imagine anything with fuel injection will handled similarly. - T.C.
12. From Andrew:
Does NASCAR mandate the size of pit road signs? Also are lighted pit road signs allowed for a night race?
There are no hard and fast rules in the rule book regarding pit road signs. But I believe this is one of those areas where if signs get out of control, NASCAR gives teams the old “don’t bring that back next week” speech. If you notice, all pit road signs are about the same size. Also, I can’t remember which team it was, but somebody brought out a lit sign years ago, and they were instructed to leave it at home. – T.C.
13. From Steve:
Could you give us a listing of the ‘funded’ drivers and where their backing comes from?
I’ll make a distinction between drivers who bring sponsorship (Nelson Piquet and Kevin Conway) and those who have family money. Of the ones with family money, here is a list of those currently competing (that I can think of at 11pm):
- Journo
14. From Mark C:
The last few months I have read stories that have mentioned Jimmie Johnson Racing. Does he have any race teams or does he just use Jimmie Johnson Racing for tax reasons? BTW love your website keep doing what you guys do!!!!!
Thanks Mark! Most drivers maintain corporations through which they do their business, perhaps run their foundations and maintain insurance (Jimmie Johnson included). Drivers are generally contractors for teams, not employees. – Journo
From NASCAR’s largest oval, to it’s smallest… The Trucks and Cup cars are making the short trip up to Martinsville this week, while the Nationwide Series is off for another week. We aren’t off though, as we have the 149 edition of questions and answers. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer 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 Von:
Guys, I am a huge NFL fan and my Sundays are split (DVR wise) between the NFL and NASCAR. That being said, I was watching Monday Night Football and I liked the fact that each team member got some recognition on the first series of each team’s possesion (not just the quarterback). I may be crazy, but would it be possible to do that for crew member in NASCAR? Even if its a short intro with the drivers pick and abbreviated bios, I think it would be great to give the guys their due credit and attention. Thoughts?
I think it was TNT years ago that used to do pit crew lineups (much the way you’d see a starting lineup get announced in any of the big three leagues). It was a cool feature – I think crew guys definitely deserve some recognition. It is a team sport after all. – Journo
2. From Mark_O:
There have been a lot of stories lately about the switch to EFI. What I never seem to hear is whether the Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series are also making the switch. Will they remain the same or do they make the switch next year as well?
It is my understanding that only the Cup Series is making the switch to EFI for the 2012 season. Don’t expect the other two series to get it until at least 2013, and maybe even 2014. – T.C.
3. From Tomm H:
During a race when a car has handling problems and the pit crew raises the hood, what suspension adjustments are they making? What parts of the front suspension can they adjust during the race?
They could be making a number of adjustments including changing cambers by adding or removing camber shims, changing shocks, or adding or removing rounds (like they can do in the rear). Teams can also change sway bars, or if there is damage, fix the toe. – T.C.
4. From Andrew:
Why did NASCAR ban lubricants on rear bumpers at “Dega but allow some kind of slippery tape? I always get a chuckle out of the simplest ways crews come up with to help their cars.
I don’t know anything about slippery tape. The teams were allowed to lubricate the bumpers at Talladega, but it had to be done before the race and I believe only with aerosol based lubricants. That’s why you didn’t see teams smearing axle grease or other lubricants on the bumpers during pit stops. – T.C.
5. From Shawn:
Is it common practice for drivers to throw water bottles out onto the racing surface as Carl Edwards was seen doing at Talladega? thanks guys great site
Thanks Shawn! It happens every week. – Journo
6. From Craig:
Is there anything NASCAR can do short of a radical aero redesign to end this two-car drafting once and for all? Can they make bumpers not line up again on the 2013 car to end it? I think as a fan I’ve given it a fair shot. It’s exciting at the end, but it cheapens the win and competition too much.
I’m not an aerodynamics expert, so I’m not really sure what it would take to end the tandem racing. And I don’t know if NASCAR even knows how to change it. They continue to make small tweaks to the cooling systems, but they clearly don’t work. I definitely don’t believe changing the bumpers so they don’t line up is the answer. We’d see even more big crashes than we have now. The COTs are due for another big change for the 2013 season, so the answer may lie there… – T.C.
7. From Derek:
Why is it that a big name sponser like Geico can’t sponser a full season for Casey Mears but when he doesn’t run the full race they still get to put their name on his car.
The Geico sponsorship isn’t worth much. And clearly the company’s not interested in increasing it – if they were they wouldn’t be with Germain. Germain keeps the company’s name on the car when Casey start-and-parks as a sweetener for the deal. It is what it is. – Journo
8. From Ben from Philly:
I heard that at the recent fuel injection test, teams were using smaller spoilers. Can you elaborate on this and do you think these smaller spoilers will help improve racing?
I think NASCAR and the teams may have just been experimenting with the smaller spoilers to see what they would do to speeds and the cars’ handling. Those test days provide NASCAR with a way to see how changes actually affect the cars on track, and in traffic. But I don’t believe a marginally smaller spoiler would dramatically change the racing. – T.C.
9. From Todd:
On Tuesday it was announced that MWR & JTG were fined severely for having illegal windshields in the #00, #56 and #47 cars. The typical violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) was used. But what I would like to know is what exactly was illegal with the windshields? I heard prior to the race that NASCAR confiscated them, but they never said on TV the exact reason. Then in Tuesdays announcement NASCAR didn’t explain what made them illegal. Do you know and can you explain what was done to these 3 cars windshields?
The windshield did not meet the specified thickness. We heard it was too thin. NASCAR also found the team’s violated rule 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the rule book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event) and 20-3.2.1A (unapproved modification to an approved windshield). – Journo
Five Chase races down, five to go. With the Nationwide cars off for a few weeks, the Cup cars and Trucks will take to the high banks of Talladega. We’ve got a solid batch of questions this week, so we’ll get to it. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer 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 Rob:
Why do drivers keep missing driver intros and go to the back of the field. Sometimes its start and park guys but then Dinger and some others have had it happen, with track position key it seems like such a boneheaded mistake I can’t believe it happens.
I honestly couldn’t give the exact reason why Allmendinger missed driver intros at Kansas. He may just not have been aware of what time they were scheduled for. It’s certainly not something you do on purpose, as there is no advantage to starting in the back. I wish I had a better explanation for you. – T.C.
2. From Chris:
When will the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series Schedule be out? Do you think that the 2012 Nationwide Series Schedule will be out after the Ford 300?
Any day now… Normally those schedules are released at a similar time. I think we’re seeing NASCAR waiting for a couple of dates to come together. I’d bet we see the Nationwide and Truck schedules before Homestead. – Journo
3. From David:
Considering the costs of NASCAR racing. In an attempt to cut costs in Nationwide, NASCAR implemented the 2 race per engine rule. That was such a stoopid dabble. How would a limit of 2 cars per team work? Ya bend it ya fix it. Possibly a provision for “catastrophic” bending but the cost in points to “catastrophic”ly bending a car each race would be incentive enough not to keep many new cars back at the shop.
I think it’s certainly an interesting idea. Race cars take time to build though, and in the event of a serious wreck, I’m not sure there would be enough time during a week to completely build a race car from the ground up. I’m also not sure how you police it. NASCAR could only allow two cars be certified per team, but then would officials have to visit shops constantly to make sure they weren’t hiding extra cars? – T.C.
4. From George:
Last weeks question #1 about using the road courses that are currently in the infield of some tracks brought up a valid point. The 18 to 35 year old fan has been raised in the ‘X Games” era, lots of action Having gone to the Grand Am races at both Homestead and Daytona and Indy Car at Road America, I preferred the races on the infield tracks. The action was fast and fantastic. The large road courses have limited views of the race and was more like a parade. The use of the road courses in the infields of the 1 1/2 mile track I’ve been to is where the haulers and drivers motor homes are parked so that may present a problem. Also the width of the tracks. That said, recently on a tv show (NASCAR Now) a commentator compared road courses to short tracks for the on track action the cameras can show on the telecast. So my question, In our X Games era, do YOU believe that the sport could grow a younger, hipper, more worldly audience (both tv and live attendance) on a stadium type road course of 1.5-2 miles?
I think it’s possible. I think there is a different but more visible skill set associated with road course racing and I think younger audiences like to watch sports that are more physically and mentally demanding. – Journo
5. From Billy:
If a Go or Go Home car does not make a lap in the practice in which the qualfying order is set then do they still get to make a qualifying attempt?
That is a very good question. There is nothing in the rule book about the procedure for qualifying so I can’t give you a definitive answer. I would imagine they would have to at least make a lap in that session, but I don’t know for sure. – T.C.
6. From Andrew:
Does NASCAR mandate how the driver seat has to be positioned in the car? I remember hearing a bunch of years ago how Dale Sr. used to angle his seat a certain way so when he went into a corner the g forces would push him strainght back into his seat instead of to the side. Do you know of any drivers that do this on high g-force tracks?
NASCAR does have some rules for how the seat is mounted, but they cannot mandate everything. You have to remember that every driver is a different size, and finds different positions comfortable. Safety is something NASCAR takes extremely seriously, and you can bet if a seat is mounted in a way they don’t like, they will make the driver and team change it. – T.C.
7. From Anonymous:
Am I the only one surprised Kenseth didn’t didn’t have a Fluidmaster driver suit or at least a hat? For an elite team like Roush, I would think they and the sponsor would have some kind of memorabilia for the driver to wear if they got interviewed. If I didn’t know better I’d have thought Crown Royal was the sponsor. Do you think Fluidmaster is kinda upset about this or did they know the team didn’t have any stuff with Fluidmaster on it?
I think it’s apparent those sponsorship deals are not worth a ton. WileyX, Affliction Clothing, Fluidmaster – look at the lack of much of a paint scheme and the firesuits as a good indicator. Fluidmaster knew what they were paying for. – Journo
8. From Bill:
With do the drivers do for medical insurance for racing related accidents. Also, what about life insurance. Do the teams provide it? Does NASCAR?
They pay for it and it’s very expensive. This is one of the unfortunate things for drivers who aren’t employed by larger teams. (We wrote a post about this a few years ago) – Journo
Only six races remain in the 2011 Cup season. The Nationwide and Cup cars will take to Charlotte this weekend, while the Trucks are in Las Vegas. And as you’ve come to expect, we’ve got more answers to reader questions for you. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer 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 Robert:
Pocono and a couple of the other 2 race Cup tracks have built-in road courses. Why not have one race on the regular NASCAR track and the other race on the venue’s road course. Seems to me the only exciting racing going on these days either occurs on the short tracks or the two road courses. NASCAR’s racing product makes for edge of your seat side by side racing with geat fender rubbing action. It’s much more appealing than IndyCar or Formula 1 and yet NASCAR doesn’t push it? What’s your take?
I think the prevailing thought within NASCAR and among the fan base is that road course racing is secondary for the sport. Why they don’t use existing road courses at the ovals is a question for NASCAR and the tracks. I think seating could be a challenge and I’m certain there are logistical issues for the tracks in conversion. – Journo
2. From Mitch:
How many cars are in a top K+N team fleet such as Gibbs, Waltrip? Obviously, they race a smaller schedule but are teams as large as a truck or ARCA program?
They are probably similarly sized. For the cars that run out of Gibbs and Waltrip, remember that many of these large Cup teams still have inventories of old, obsolete cars that can still be used in the East/West series. These teams don’t need large fleets though, because they don’t run on a huge variety of different tracks. – T.C.
3. From Chris:
Am I missing something? I thought when a driver gets the “lucky dog” they have to start at the end of the longest line on the restart. The 22 started way up front when he got the free pass.
I’m not 100% sure at what point in the race this was so I can’t look back. I can tell you, as per the rulebook, the “Free Pass” car lines up behind all the lead lap cars and the lap down cars regardless of whether they entered pit road or not. Behind the “Free Pass” could have potentially been “wave around” cars, and cars issued a penalty and required to go to the tail of the field. – Journo
4. From Floyd:
Fuel mileage tricks that work on carb’s dont usually help much with fuel injection. How do you see fuel mileage races shaking out with the new system? Defend Jimmie if you think you must, but if he wins again this year, I’m out a here. Enough’s enough.
I don’t think you’ll see a big difference with fuel mileage races and fuel injection. Obviously teams might not be able to manipulate the system as much, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see fuel mileage races, and drivers doing crazy things (like shutting off the engine) to save fuel. And when were we defending Jimmie? – T.C.
5. From Liam:
I was wondering just what exactly on a race car is from the ‘manufacturer’? For example, Hendrick builds engines, but would you consider these Chevy engines? Are there any pieces that Chevy is supplying directly to HMS? Or, are the manufacturer’s really just more of a decal on the cars?
Yes, there are still pieces that come from the manufacturer. The noses and tails have part numbers and are not made by the teams, and the manufacturers are heavily involved with the engines. For example, the Toyota engines are built by Toyota Racing Development. – T.C.
6. From Alex:
News today shows TRG is fielding a second car for the rest of 2011. Do you think that that second car could possibly be David Ragan’s possible ride next year if sponsorship doesnt come together for Ragan to stay at Roush??
Anything is possible, and so the rumor goes Ragan has had conversations with the team. The issue, as I see it, with Ragan at TRG though is the same issue for him at Roush – money. Hermie Sadler, for his two races, is very likely bringing something to the table. We’ll see who is in it for the rest of the year. – Journo
7. From Mike:
My wife and I noticed during a couple pit stops on Sunday at Kansas that one crew member who was not over the wall holding a metal tube and apparently blowing something on the left front tire while the right side tires were being changed. Is he blowing off brake dust, and if so, why don’t they do it to the left side rear tire? I’ve just never noticed a non-over-the-wall crew member doing anything other than retrieving tires and scraping off the front air dam.
Yes, what you were seeing was a crew member blowing the brake dust off the left front. It helps the front changer get a clearer picture of the lugnuts. You don’t see it happen on the rear because there is usually not a brake dust problem on the rear. The front brakes do the majority of the work when slowing down the car. Just like on your road car, your front wheels always get a lot dirtier from brake dust than the rear wheels. Race cars are no different. – T.C.
Hey readers, I know some of you have experienced some Javascript errors with the website, and I want everyone to know we are working on trying to track down exactly what is wrong. For now, we’ve got the 146th edition of ATIW. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer 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 Kyle:
I have been to many races and recently noticed that after the drivers start their engines, some repeatedly go forward for a few feet and back up a few feet before pulling off pit road. Usually a team member watches the back and front end of the cars while they do this. Any idea as to what they are checking or doing?
I’ve got to be honest here, I’ve never paid enough attention to notice this. They could be checking to make sure the brakes are working, that the transmission will engage in forward and reverse, or maybe a quick check on if the wheel is straight or not. - T.C.
2. From Matt from Reno:
I saw a question about electronics in the car and your response was that only the ignition box was allowed. How are the telemetry numbers for the car gathered? On TV they display engine RPM, gas and brake pedal data.
The broadcast crews are able to put telemetry boxes in the cars, but teams don’t have access to that information. – Journo
3. From Amy:
I know it’s a little late to talk new hampshire but I have a question…the winner gets presented with a fairly large lobster…what happens to the lobster? Does the driver get to take it home and eat it?
I believe the fate of the victory lobster is up to the driver who wins it. Some have saved them (like Kurt Busch), and I’m sure others have eaten them. – T.C.
4. From Sue:
I read that a Mike Mclaughlin from Jason White’s team was suspended by NASCAR. This isn’t the same person who raced in the Busch series some time ago?
No it’s not the same guy. – Journo
5. From Patrick:
Hi guys. Just wondering about the engine lease programs that teams run. Lets take Stewart Haas racing for the moment. The get engines from HMS. What happens during the weekend if the engine breaks. Like during practice. Is there a warranty? Do they have to pay for the second engine? Also most engine contracts I see come with a tuner. A guy or gal solely responsible for the engine and its performance during the weekend. Doesn’t that give the suppliers team information that maybe they shouldn’t have knowledge of ( setups, weight, air pressures)?
Yes, there are stipulations in the engine deals if an engine expires. These kinds of deals are usually for a set amount of time, and not a specified number of engines. It also depends on if the engine failure is because of an actual part failure, or negligence by the team or driver. As to your second question, engine tuners are not usually heavily involved in determining the setup of the race car, so they won’t be privy to the important information – T.C.
6. From Patrick:
I saw during final practice at Dover after the 48 car returned to the garage a crew member was cleaning the under side of the hood near the wheel openings. Why? Part 2 of the question is why do teams have decals on the under side of the hood?
What you saw was probably the crew guy cleaning rubber off the under side of the hood. While the car is on the track, bits of rubber can fly everywhere, and that spot under the hood is a prime location for buildup. And teams will put decals anywhere that fans or TV cameras will see. They’ve got to get sponsors and partners as much exposure as possible. – T.C.
7. From Kevin:
What was the first year NASCAR implemented the yellow rookie stripes in cup series competition?
I wish I had an answer for you. I don’t know, and I can’t seem to track down the year it was implemented. Maybe a reader knows? – T.C.
8. From Bobby B:
Hey guys, Where do you think Dollar General is heading? Kyle Busch Motorsports’ long rumored Nationwide program? Or are they going to a Cup team?
Kyle Busch has been the rumored destination for months. We’ll see if that comes to fruition. – Journo
9. From Steve B:
So now that it is all but assured that 5 Hour Energy is moving to MWR along with Clint, how does Rusty feel about Waltrip stealing his sponsor? Is this something that is cool with the owners, or is there animosity between Rusty and Michael?
I doubt it. 5 Hour Energy wanted to go Cup racing and RWR wasn’t in a position to give them that platform. It’s a fact of this business that sponsors sometimes move on. – Journo
10. From Nick:
Hey guys, always enjoy your information. You guys know about what the Roush or RPM line-up will look like next year, or Ford’s overall? For the lone American car company really doing well they should have more teams instead of 5 potentially if RFR trims. Any thoughts on their potential expansion?
Roush right now is still trying to lock down sponsor commitments for next season. Obviously the big three at Roush are in a good position. David Ragan is the big question mark. In the Nationwide Series, Ricky Stenhouse is in a good position to have a full-time deal and Bayne will more likely than not be full-time with Wood Brothers or in a similar position as this year. Remember, manufacturers are not footing the bill for teams, so investment in additional cars is up to the organizations. And as we know, all that is dependent on sponsorship dollars. Contraction in this case is more likely than expansion. – Journo
Two Chase races, two Tony Stewart wins. Could this be the year the 48 finally falls? Dover is up next on the schedule, with the Nationwide and Cup Series in action. With Wednesday upon us, we’ve got the 145th edition of ATIW. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer 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 Christopher:
I understand why some people make more than others after a race, even if they finish lower. But I noticed Derrike Cope is listed in the standings. 0 races, 0 points, and earnings of $82,054. How is THAT possible? Are there contingency plans that award someone who doesn’t even qualify? If you can give me specifics, that would be great… I’m looking to make $82,054 for doing nothing!
Cope earned that money from running in the Shootout and the All-Star Showdown. Those are non-points races so they don’t count, but there are still cash awards for them. – Journo
2. From Andy:
How much electronics is permitted on a Sprint Cup car? Just an ignition box or are there others allowed? An ECU of some sort? I’m wondering if if it would be possible to conceal a cylinder deactivation routine similar to that on Cadillac engines. That would be very helpful on these fuel mileage races.
Nothing other than the ignition box is currently allowed during race weekends. There is no ECU. Unless a team has a magician, hiding some sort of cylinder shutdown device would be extremely difficult. – T.C.
3. From Alastair:
Hi guys! This is may be more of a thought than question but do you think NASCAR drivers should really be bothered when people say they are not athletes? At the end of the day they race cars at 200+ MPH inches from walls and other cars for 500miles. For me that is way more exciting than the Javelin…
I don’t think most are. It’s really a pretty irrelevant argument. There is always going to be tension between stick and ball sports and motorsports and nothing will change that until the shoe is on the other foot. NASCAR drivers do extraordinary things under very dangerous conditions – we really don’t need to be justifying anything to anyone. – Journo
4. From Don:
I haven’t seen a comparison between the points system from last season vs. the new point system. Could you show it?
They show up periodically, but I can’t find one that’s been regularly updated. Here is one from early on in the season. If anybody else knows of one post in the comments section and I’ll update the post. – Journo
5. From Ryan:
What “dead weight” was Tony Stewart referring to in his Victory Lane interview? He doesn’t look like he’s lost anymore weight!
Stewart said after the race that the comment wasn’t directed at his team. One can only assume it was a personal issue. Google “Tony Stewart” and “dead weight.” – Journo
6. From Bob:
My wife and I are planning on going to the Phonix race in Nov. We have never been to a race before. Any advice as where to sit or what we should know before hand would be much app.
I would first check out our “Advice For First Time Race Goers” post from a couple years back. Scroll down through the comments section, and you will find a ton of really great information. Next, maybe those of you reading this post could offer up some insight? – T.C.
7. From Ben from Philly:
Have you heard anything that might shed some light on the “dead weight” Tony was referring to during his post-race interview?
See queston #5. – Journo
8. From Neon:
TC-I am a strong believer that the entire team does not get nearly enough credit for their efforts. That being said, I wanted to pose a question to you regarding the over-the-wall fraternity in Cup. Arguably, we consider the likes of Busch (like him or hate him), Edwards, Stewart, Gordon, Johnson, Harvick, etc, etc to be superstars and the elite drivers of the sport. Are there certain and specific individual tire changers, tire carriers, jackmen or gas men that are known in the inner circles as the superstars and the elite crew guys? I.E. Everyone knows John ?Lugs? Doe, the tire changer for Team ACME #61 is the best of the best and the benchmark for all others. Now is your chance to praise these guys. BTW feel free to include yourself, as we would never know!
Just to start off, if guys make it to the Cup Series for a premier team, they are probably pretty damn good at what they do. There are only 43 spots in the world for each of the six positions, so it’s a pretty exclusive club. With that said, there are certainly some guys out there that are superlatives at their position. Nate Bolling (JGR #11), Mike Casto (SHR #14), and Nick Terry (RCR #33) are a few examples of really good jackmen. Changers like Justin Nottestad (RFR #17), Nick Odell (JGR #18), Mike Hicks (JGR #11), Jason Pulver and Dustin Necaise (both RCR #29), Ira Joe Hussey (SHR #14), Mike Lingerfelt (RFR #16), and Jay Hackney (Penske #22) are all guys that can hit some damn lugnuts. Some of the better tire carriers include Mike Houston (HMS #88), Ryan McCray (RFR #17), Brad Donaghy (JGR #18), and Jody Fortson (RFR #99). These are just a few examples of guys that are really good at each position. There are certainly more that deserve recognition, but I can’t write a 1,000 word answer. – T.C.
9. From Joe:
A recent in-race ‘engine failure’ was subsequently attributed to the failure of a “Wiggins Clamp”. Where are “Wiggins Clamps” used? Fuel lines/hoses, coolant lines/hoses, oil lines/hoses, brake lines/hoses? What other types of connectors are used to fasten these lines/hoses?
Wiggins Clamps can really be used for any type of flexible lines. They are made by Adel Wiggins and are available for many different applications. If there is a trick, or high end solution out there, you can be sure NASCAR teams will track it down. – T.C.
10. From Dennis:
What is the benefits of winning the “Owners Championship” and “Manufacturers Championship” ? I see so many teams making so many changes in the lower series so they can make sure they keep the lead and try and win the championship. I can sort of understand the Manufacturers championship, as that could possibly be bragging rights, but it’s not like the Manufacturers have any rivalries against each other. So what is the purpose? or is it just a title.
Money and bragging rights mostly. It’s a win, a victory. For the owner points, remember too that they determine guaranteed starting spot status – for a team like KHI the higher a team is in the owner points the more valuable the points are because it’s more breathing room. The manufacturers absolutely have rivalries with each other. Remember they have teams of people at the track every weekend just like everyone else. It’s a good marketing piece too. Everybody wants to be the best at everything. – Journo
The Chase is on, and thanks to a little Monday strategy, Tony Stewart makes the first move. Now, with a weekend off for the Nationwide teams, the Trucks and Cup cars head to Loudon. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer 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 Chris:
What Sprint Cup Series Races do you think that Danica Patrick will race in 2012?
I’m guessing it will be a combination of the bigger races and races that Tony Stewart and company think will most benefit her development. Expect Daytona and Indy for sure, and probably tougher tracks like Darlington, Bristol, and Martinsville. – T.C.
2. From Phil:
Are there any hot rumors re: “unexpected teams” or additional / new car brands” joining NASCAR next year? How late in 2011 would they need to announce their intentions for the 2012 season. And, has the revised TV schedule for Daytona 2012 been released yet?
Rumors keep popping up about Red Bull, but nothing credible to report. If any new brands made a decision to come to NASCAR that would be something that would be a couple of seasons in the making – doing R&D, finding teams and doing logistics is not a short process. And I haven’t seen any revised Daytona TV schedule. – Journo
3. From Joe:
Regarding this week’s question of the backup driver starting a race because the primary driver misses the drivers’ meeting, wouldn’t the backup driver have to start from the back of the pack anyway due to the driver change?
It depends on if the backup driver qualified the car. – Journo
4. From Anonymous:
When, where and how do we get tickets for the Las Vegas celebration. We went last year and it was a blast for we old-fogies.
Unfortunately, as far as I know there hasn’t been any information released about it. Since we’re moving to the end of September I would imagine NASCAR will be announcing something very soon. Keep your eyes peeled! – Journo
5. From Chuck:
I was just wondering…. with the move to fuel injection in the works, could this be used by NASCAR to give some teams an unfair edge? I have heard that NASCAR will issue the controller chips to each team… is there some advantage that could be given through this?
As they do for restrictor plates, I would imagine that anything like this involved with the new fuel injection systems will be done out in the open, and randomly. Unlike some out there, we don’t buy into racing conspiracy theories. If NASCAR really attempted to control race results, they would have helped Dale Earnhardt Jr. win a race by now. – T.C.
Is the Truck Series slowly dying? First, it’s KHI pulling out, now reports Germain is telling their drivers to look for other opportunities. The Trucks put on some of the best racing week after week. It’s disturbing to me that money and teams are slowly leaving the series.
That is a good question. Things don’t look too great. Randy Moss Motorsports appears to be dead, KHI is gone, Germain is scaling back – there is a lot of upheaval in the series right now, which is not necessarily a death knell, but it speaks to the issues. Sponsorships are harder to come by, payouts are pittance and it’s not cheap to run. NASCAR appears to finally be waking up to the issues, but whether or not that helps remains to be seen. – Journo
7. From Dwiltone:
When you think about it, most sports stars have an agenda that requires them to attend / speak / give back to many functions and charities / civic needs etc. I personaly think that Nascar drivers at the top level have much more of these activities thrust upon them due do individual sponsorships etc. than other sports stars. I sometimes wonder how they find the energy to make all the commitments and still be focused enough to drive a car at 200 mph for 3 or 4 hours. Some say Nascar is not a sport. The guys are not true athletes. I can already hear your answer. Please expound in many words and cast all doubters aside. Always a great site guys. And for others reading this. Yes they do answer all questions submitted. This is my fifth.
Thanks Dwiltone! Well, there are a lot of definitions of what an athlete is, but one very basic definition I found is: a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength. The fact is, driving a stock car takes physical agility, stamina and strength. Maybe not in the way it does to play football or basketball, but it does. We can all drive our cars 90mph, but to do 200mph, inches away from another car for four hours while finding the best way to get around a race track is something else. I think the important point with these conversations though is that there are a lot of people who will never be convinced that NASCAR drivers are athletes. And I think that’s ok. We, after all, know the truth – Journo
8. From Tyler:
NASCAR needs to go back to the 22 gallon fuel cells. The combination of the smaller full cells and the Ethanol blended gas is causing short fuel runs. Has anyone suggested that? Also, it’s ridiculous that the 17 can push a car to victory the entire last lap at Daytona, but is penalized for getting a push for less than a whole lap for just a top 10. It’s not really a question, but more of a comment. I’d like to hear your thoughts on it.
What’s wrong with shorter fuel runs? I’m not sure an argument can be made that racing has been hurt by the switch from 22 to 18 gallon cells. As for the whole “pushing” debacle, we need to seriously stop comparing what happens at restrictor plate tracks to what happened with Matt Kenseth at Chicago. Drafting and pushing a car that is not under power are two completely different things. NASCAR shouldn’t allow one car to push another that isn’t under it’s own power at any point in the race. If you have a mechanical issue, or run out of gas, tough. – T.C.
9. From Mike:
I see a lot of stories about Directors of Competition for different teams, and I know they’re responsible for team performance, but I don’t understand the specifics of the job. Exactly what does a DoC do on a day to day basis? Do they spend a lot of time in the shop, or is it mostly office work?
It’s mostly office work. Race teams are basically broken down into two departments; competition and business. On the business side is marketing, PR, sponsorships, licensing, etc. Competition is obviously the actual racing side. People like Scott Miller (recently parted ways with RCR) are responsible for the racing side. The crew chiefs, engineers, and shop guys all answer to them. They are constantly working with all involved to make their race cars go as fast as possible. That means keeping up with cars being built, technical advancements, hiring and firing, budgets, etc. – T.C.
10. From Scott:
Just wondering if NASCAR has thought about changing to a 5 or 6 speed gear box? I can’t recall the last car that was available for purchase that only had a four speed … perhaps the 1980 VW Rabbit I had? What other affects would this have on fuel consumption, top speed, and overall driving? Granted this may not work at smaller tracks like Bristol or Martinsville but the extra ratios might help at road courses. Maybe a lower top RPM plus the extra gears? Just thinking out loud here.
I doubt NASCAR has seriously considered a change. Except at road courses and Pocono, the only time the other gears are even used is on restarts and getting on and off pit road. I’m not sure if a switch occurred that you’d even notice a difference in the racing. – T.C.
The Chase has arrived! And with all the talk of the different scenarios regarding the wild card, we ended up with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart getting the last two spots, and Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin locking down the wild cards. Now, all three series are off to Chicago! If you don’t know what this post is, we answer 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 Mark:
Given that Jack Roush is willing to run competitive, but regularly unsponsored cars in the Nationwide Series, do you think some potential sponsors think that because he does that, he doesn’t need their money, perhaps even on the Cup side? They seem to have the most sponsorship struggles of any of the big teams, yet they remain competitive. None of the other big teams seem to want to risk cars with blank panels. Thoughts?
Can you really say Roush Fenway has the most sponsorship struggles? They currently have four fully funded Cup cars and a funded Nationwide Series team. Yes, they do have two NNS cars (the 6 and 16) that have run much of the season unfunded, but I don’t think sponsors see that as a negative. If anything, it should show sponsors that Roush is dedicated to and believes in these drivers. And much has been made to this point about the lack of announcements for 2012, but don’t be surprised if they are back with four full time Cup cars. – T.C.
2. From Doug in CA:
Not exactly a question, but I would recommend fans reading Bobby Allison’s Wikipedia page to understand a minor controversy over whether Jeff Gordon is really now alone in third on NASCAR’s all-time Cup win list. Did Allison win 85 races? Or even 86?
I will say officially, Bobby Allison has the number of wins he has. The controversy arises with the ’73 National 500 and ’71 Myers 250. He contested the ’73 race – he finished third – and was actually in a Grand-Am car in the ’71 race – which he won, but NASCAR did not count. – Journo
3. From Paul:
Back to Bristol if I may. Sometimes I wonder if everyone else is watching the same race that I am. All the talk was about MK speeding/passing in the pits. What about BK? He sped halfway down pit road, clearly passed JG and MK on that last stop, went on to win the race and nobody noticed?
Oh don’t worry, a lot of people noticed. In fact, I think I heard more about Brad K.’s pit road speeding, than I did about any other driver. NASCAR has already said they will probably add more scoring loops to Bristol’s pit road in order to avoid the drag racing. – T.C.
Silly question, but, when is a race actually over? After the leader completes their cool down lap and begins to celebrate, all of the lap-down cars are already off the track (obviously not finishing the distance). All the lead-lap cars seem to race all the way to the finish to get every last position possible. So, is the race over when the last lead-lap car passes the start/finish, then the lap-down cars all place according to the scoring loop?
The race is over when everyone takes the checkered flag. Lap cars can still gain positions in the final lap just like everyone else – they just aren’t going to make their lap up. – Journo
5. From Andrew:
This is kinda a weird question. If a driver misses the mandatory drivers meeting he has to start at the rear of the field. What if said driver has a backup driver standing by who does make the drivers meeting. Does the backup driver have to start at the rear of the field? And can the primary driver get in the car after the race starts? Told ya it was wierd…lol Thanks.
Well, I suppose teams could do this, the problem is, it takes a couple of minutes to do a driver swap so the spots you make up not having to go to the back will be lost when the swap occurs. You’re better off just taking the punishment. -Journo
6. From David:
I know that sponsorship is hard to find,but for the past 35 years I’ve wondered why a company that sells a sunblocker type of product hasn’t sponsored a team. It makes sense with all of the races that are run in the daytime sun. Guess it’s not really a question, just an observation.
Hawaiian Tropic did sponsor Neil Bonnett back in the day – otherwise I don’t really have a clue. You’ve got to remember it’s very costly to sponsor a NASCAR team and then effectively activate the sponsorship. Sponsorships just may not a serious part of the plan for those companies. – Journo
7. From Alastair:
Hi guys! Elliott Sadler’s Pocono crash was the hardest hit recorded in NASCAR. Do you know where and if Geoff Bodine’s 2000 Truck Crash at Daytona is rated? Is the difference that Sadler’s was pure G-Force while Bodine’s was simply a horrific destruction of his Truck? I always think how amazing and thankful it is that he survived. Thanks!
8. From Gary:
How will speeds be reduced with use of fuel injection.Is there a type of restrictor plate available?
I don’t believe NASCAR has yet figured out how they are going to restrict the new fuel injected engines. Or maybe they have, but they haven’t said anything publicly. Something will be done though. – T.C.
9. From Christopher:
Hey guys, I was at Richmond last night night for the NNS race and what I saw unfold between Leffler, Harvick, Bayne was nothing short of pathetic – and I refer mainly to Harvick. First, he lets Sadler go and holds up Bayne for several laps. I realize he owns that car and Sadler is in a championship hunt, but I would bet a dollar that even Sadler would rather race a guy clean (especially a guy like Bayne who is not in the championship hunt and races clean) than play that chickensh*t game. Secondly, I don’t know how others feel, but I personally get a little peeved when Cup drivers wreck NNS guys in NNS races. Harvick dumping Leffler was inexcusable. I know “racing incidents” happen – but come on. That being said, I don’t think anyone couldn’t have guessed what would happen next. Leffler comes back on track, bides his time, and violla – payback to Harvick. I agree with the payback, but Leffler, really? Brake checking? Are you a 16 year old or a racecar driver? Find a hole and put him in the wall!! Don’t screw up someone else’s night (Bayne) because you’re pissed at Harvick. What came next, in my opinion, should have been prevented by NASCAR. I know they love their “boys have at it” slogan, but they warned Harvick and Busch at Pocono several weeks ago just for being close to each other. Meanwhile, at Richmond, Harvick and Leffler are screwing around for 5 laps and no one says anything. Then, to top it all off, Bayne, trying to earn a good finish with a great car gets hooked by the same guy who cried a river when Kyle Busch did the same to him. I know this is just another example of consistently inconsistent NASCAR, but come on! Incidents like what I saw last night make me increasingly frustrated with the sport. I don’t know if there was a question in there, but I would love your opinions on what happened. As always, thanks guys – love the site!
Honestly, what we witnessed during the NNS race at Richmond didn’t surprise me. Harvick and Leffler are known for their antics, and Bayne just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He gets into Harvick, Harvick gets mad, Bayne gets wrecked. We’ve seen it 100 times from guys like Harvick. – T.C.
10. From Alastair:
Hi! This question is rather hard to answer as we will never know! But with Dale Jr resigning with Hendrick i was wondering in your opinion if he wasn’t the son of Dale Sr would we still be seeing him in the Cup series or do you think he would be in an Elliot Sadler situation and racing in the NNS? Not good enough for a top team in Cup but not bad enough to be out of a ride in NASCAR somewhere? Thanks guys!
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has 18 wins and currently sits 10th in the points. He also has 23 Nationwide Series wins and two championships. Comparing him to Elliott Sadler is not exactly fair. He has certainly had opportunities because of who he is, but the success he has had is all his own. - Journo
11. From Michael in SoCal:
A couple ideas for handicapping the Cup drivers when they drive in Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races… 1. Limit Cup drivers to one practice session in the lower series. 2. One less set of tires for any Cup series driver in the lower series race. 3. Cup drivers start at the rear of the field. Qualifying time to be used for pit selection only. How viable do these sound? Thanks!
I think only the practice restriction sounds realistic. A tire limit is way too restrictive, and we’ve seen that starting Cup drivers in the back of NNS races isn’t a hindrance. How many times have Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards started in the back and won anyway? – T.C.
12. From Ben from Philly:
How different are engines in NASCAR? Is there a real competitive difference between an RCR or Hendrick engine? Isn’t NASCAR really strict on its regulations for engines, so shouldn’t all engines be the same from a competitive perspective?
The rules are pretty comprehensive, but there are differences. The performance advantages are not large from one engine builder to the next, maybe only a few percentage points at most. If you compare race wins and performance, I’d imagine it’s pretty close. – T.C.
13. From Sue:
Tony had an evil car at Bristol and he finished poorly. I read that the chassis for that car was 2 1/2 years old. Has there been significant changes to chassis’ in the last 2 1/2 years and if so could they be easily changed on an older chassis??
The base of the chassis, the center section, is probably that old, but the front and rear clips are no doubt much newer than that. Teams are constantly making changes and improvements to chassis designs, and there is no doubt that Tony’s car at Bristol had up-to-date components. – T.C.
14. From Kenn:
Fellas, What do you think of Robby Gordon announcing he’s a start ‘n’ park team through the end of the season? I realize he’s a straight shooter. But what does announcing this do to his existing sponsors? By the way, is there any reason why he can’t go back out on the track for the last 10% or so? It would give his car some TV time. He’s a professional driver, so I’m sure he’d keep out of the way of the leaders.
As far as I know the only existing sponsor for Gordon is Speed Energy, which of course is Gordon. That said, even if he did have sponsors, he wouldn’t have made any announcements with prior approval or understanding. Going back out for the last portion of the race might be worthwhile to improve race standing, but the chances of getting much exposure at that point are slim to none. The TV cameras don’t care about cars 100+ laps down. – Journo
15. From Fireball Doowah:
Jeff Gordon alleged that the late spin by Paul Menard at Richmond was intentional. Do you think there is anything to this, other than sour grapes?
I guess anything is possible. As tore up as Menard’s car was, it’s not implausible to believe that he just lost it. But Menard spinning out with 17 laps to go did not win Harvick the race. The late pit stop and a strong race car did. – T.C.