Thanks to Tropical Storm Lee, we’ve got a very short week ahead. The Cup teams only have a few short days to get everything turned over and be on their way to Richmond for a Saturday night race. And, don’t forget that Richmond is the last race before the Chase! 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 Ben from Philly:
In other motorsports (Indycar, Formula 1) cars have pit road limiters that prevent them from exceeding the speed limit and gaining a competitive advantage. Now that NASCAR is adding technology with fuel injectors, why can’t they add that? Speeding penalties would no longer be an issue, and no one would unfairly gain positions on pit road.
They could certainly add limiters, but that would mean putting electronic components on the car, and NASCAR has never been keen on anything computerized or electronic. It’s definitely a possibility, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. – T.C.
2. From Jeff:
If there is a policy against drivers standing/ jumping on top of their race cars after a win, then why did Brad Kaselowski get away with it after the Bristol race last Saturday night, Aug. 27, 2011?
There is a general policy against it. If you watch the video a NASCAR official was actually headed through the crowd presumably to stop him. I’m sure he was reminded afterward not to do that. He won’t get in any trouble for it though. – Journo
3. From Christopher:
During the bristol night race i saw that a lot of drivers were wearing some sort of cloth at the bottom of their helmet. I dont see that very often. What is it and why do they wear it at some tracks and not others?
It’s a balaclava – or head sock – to help provide fire protection. – Journo
4. From Todd:
In the late 60′s I saw a NASCAR team change just the rear tires during a pit stop. Why wouldn’t that work today?
It’s not that it wouldn’t work, it just doesn’t make a ton of sense. If you just had the rear guys do it, changing both rears would take the same amount of time as doing four tires. If you put a changer and carrier on each side to make it faster, the jackman would have to jack the car off the rear end, which wouldn’t be as quick as the usual jack post. So, you could certainly do it, I’m just not sure it makes a lot of sense to do so. – T.C.
5. From Ross:
Not entirely a question but I can make it into one: Did you guys see the movie “Senna?” (They had that media thing in Charlotte last week so maybe?) Anyway, to all Insiders fans, I want to highly recommend it. I know it’s F1 — not NASCAR — but it was such a good documentary and really gets inside some good behind the scenes racing drama. The Windowlicker was in town this Labor Day weekend and loved it too if that gives it more credibility. Though he is a Timothy Peters fan…
Definitely agree with Ross on the recommendation for “Senna.” If it’s playing near you, go see it. – 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!
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Only two races now remain before the Chase. And as if we needed more drama, there is $3 million on the line at Atlanta if one of four drivers (Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Paul Menard, Marcos Ambrose) can win. It’s going to be a fun couple of weeks. 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 Lost in Texas:
Just read what Kyle B got for his speeding charges. Think it was fair. Only question is, what is a “Prayer” for a judgement on the reckless driving charge?
I am no lawyer, but a “Prayer for Judgement” as I understand it, is an option for defendants in certain cases in North Carolina that allows them to avoid the serious penalties of what they’re charged with if they are not charged with the same crime within a certain time period. The crime generally does not appear on a person’s criminal record either. – Journo
2. From Nick:
Any news on the 17 sponsor for next year? Seems as if NAPA woule be a great fit. They get the solid, dependable Kenseth who runs up front and makes the Chase for an elite organization rather than MWR.
No word on the Kenseth sponsorship situation. NAPA could certainly be a possibility. Roush is absolutely doing all they can to fill those sponsorship gaps. – Journo
3. From Ken:
Has there ever been talk of allowing the drivers to make their own suspension adjustments while racing? It seems easy to put electric motors on the track bar and wedge adjusters, and maybe elsewhere. The more the drivers can control the actions of the car, the better the racing.
Not that I’ve heard. Making adjustments on pit road is one of those strategy things that I would hope they wouldn’t change. – Journo
4. From Gregg:
I love watching the NCWTS races but have grown curious why essentially only two of the four manufacturers have entries on a weekly basis? Why have Ford and other than Kligerman, Dodge limited their NCWTS participation?
It’s simple dollars and cents. The manufacturers have cut way back on support since the downturn in the economy, and the Truck Series was a victim. They decided they weren’t getting enough of a return on their investment to continue supporting the series. – T.C.
5. From Doug in CA:
Can you tell us who generally sits on top of the pit box and what their functions are? The crew chief, of course, is The Boss, but who else is normally up there? What does the wife/girlfriend do for the team?
You’ll have the crew chief, an engineer or two, and than any combination of team managers, sponsor people and guests, owners, WAGs, and other crew members. And most wives and girlfriends don’t serve an official function for the team. They are there for support only. – T.C.
6. From Gilbert:
I really like Ask The Insiders Wednsday, I never had much interest in NASCAR until I married into a NASCAR fanatic family(5yrs. ago). And its better each year, I went to my first race this year in Kansas City an loved both the Trucks and Sprint Cup. My question is who pays for Sunoco race fuel ? Team owners? Nascar? The track owner?
Sunoco actually pays for the Sunoco fuel. It’s part of their sponsorship deal with NASCAR. – Journo
7. From Eric:
How is the dollar figure calculated for a given team’s winnings after a race? For example, at Bristol, Tony Stewart started 42nd, finished 28th and won $137,828. Clint Bowyer, however, started 16th, finished 26th but won $132,608. Secondly, how do teams divide their winnings? Does it all go to the driver?
The reason some drivers make more than others depends on what contingency programs a team is involved in and in what payout plan a team is in. I believe NASCAR has four different plans setup, and each team fits into one of those plans. I don’t know specific details, but the plans award prize money based on not only where you finish, but also past performance and longevity. Next, it’s common for drivers to get somewhere around 30-40% of race winnings, and the rest goes to the team. From there, each team uses the money differently. – T.C.
8. From Denver Dave:
Love your site because it’s very informative. Can you give us background on the gauges teams are using this year? Seems they change color. How do they work? Thanks.
Those gauges are called Spek gauges, and they are made by a company called ProParts. They flash different colors to alert the drivers. It allows the drivers to stay focused on what’s happening out the windshield, and not have to worry about constantly looking at gauges. For example, the tach is programmable to flash at different RPMs. – T.C.
It’s Bristol night race week! Don’t forget, the Truck Series takes to the World’s Fastest Half Mile on Wednesday night, while the Nationwide and Cup cars run Friday and Saturday night. 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 Alastair:
Hi guys! Awesome site! This question may have been asked before but what is NASCARs ruling on the S+P cars? If a team DNF’s with Brakes issues do they have to prove that they have brake issues? Also what does ‘Rear-end’ mean in a DNF? Thanks guys!
No, they don’t have to prove anything. That’s why perfectly good race cars DNF each week, but have problems listed on the results sheet. And rear end means the team DNF’d because of problems with their rear gear. – T.C.
2. From Greg:
In one of the questions this week, Christopher asked about drivers not liking a sponsor’s product. In the drink example given, have you ever heard of a driver pulling the “rockstar trick?” i.e. when they fill their “Jack Daniels” bottle with iced tea while on stage?
Mike Skinner likes to use his Red Bull water bottle – I don’t know that he dislikes Red Bull – which looks much like a Red Bull can. I can’t think of any other specific examples, but again I’m sure there are drivers who don’t enjoy the product that sponsors them. – Journo
3. From Tom:
First of all, great site, guys. My question is: Why do the cars initially leave pit road to take their pace laps in two packs, following two pace cars? After a couple laps, the second car dips off and the two packs become one. I’ve noticed it at every race, and can’t think of a logical reason why they would do it. Thanks!!
An important function of pace laps is the drivers checking their pit road speed reading for their tachometers. NASCAR will announce that the pace car is at pit road speed and the drivers can check to see what RPM they need to be running when they hit pit road. They break the field up into two packs so that every driver has a decent chance of getting an accurate reading. – T.C.
4. From Doug in CA:
In light of the Said/Ragan/Biffle mess at Watkins Glen, I was wondering: will NASCAR at some point order all drivers involved (Ragan, Reutimann, Said) into the hauler together so that everyone can watch the tape at the same time? The comments to your recent piece seem to show that we fans are pretty evenly split over who bears responsibility for the incident, so maybe the drivers should be shown how close a call it is and that, in turn, might cause them to turn down the heat a bit going forward. I realize that Boris might not be available, but you get the point – what if Said had been another Cup regular?
I think if NASCAR saw this could be a continuing issue you would see an at track meeting with the drivers. Since Boris is only an occasional figure at the track it really isn’t necessary. We’ve seen these little interventions with drivers when issues have come up. – Journo
5. From Christopher:
Why do some crew chiefs wear a full firesuit at races, and some don’t? With all the safety issues, I find it surprising that someone like Lance McGrew can sit that close to the pits with a polo shirt and dress pants.
To be honest with you, I’m not sure why any crew chief wears a firesuit. They are really only required for guys going over the wall, and the behind the wall crew members who handle fuel. When was the last time a legit Cup Series crew chief was seen over the wall during the race? – T.C.
6. From Ben from Philly:
I notice that the Gibbs cars have an odd grill pattern compared to the other cars on the track. Their front vents seem to be three circles that are formatted to make a triangle. I notice that the other teams use the conventional air vents. Is this done to maximize engine performance or downforce?
The vents you are referring to are usually used to cool things like the brakes and beads, so it wouldn’t be for engine performance. The shape and size of vents is something a lot of teams play with, and they are looking to strike a balance between proper cooling and maximum front downforce. What you are seeing from JGR is just what they feel is most effective. – T.C.
7. From Chris:
How do you think that Danica Patrick will do in the Sprint Cup Series which starts in 2012?
Well she’s only rumored to be running a partial schedule, so I would imagine next season will be more about getting a feel for the car and the series. I wouldn’t expect too much. – Journo
8. From Savannah:
With all of the silly season rumors swirling around, have you heard anything about Mark Martin’s next destination? Do you think that Greg Zipendelli would leave JGR if there is a new driver for the #20 Home Depot Chevy? Also, what is going on with Tony Stewart in the #14? It looks like he is having more fun racing in the dirt track series than racing in the NSCS. It looks like he may be sitting on the sidelines during the Chase.
We haven’t heard anything specific about Martin. He said this weekend he’s looking for a part-time deal, but said he didn’t have anything lined up. I’m guessing his deal will come to fruition a little later. Zippy leaving Gibbs is certainly a possibility, but I think if he leaves it’ll have more to with him than with who’s driving the #20. And don’t worry about Tony, he’ll be around for a while longer. – Journo
9. From Dave:
With the continued issue of stuck throttles sending premier drivers into some of the few remaining “un-safer” barriers, will NASCAR expand options for throttle “interrupt” systems beyond the over-complicated setups that have still been failing the drivers? Will things like the more straight-forward TIGOR switch ever expand beyond the Modifieds I see running them religiously? K.I.S.S. should still apply, when proper engineering seems to be involved, no?
Who else has had a stuck throttle this season besides Martin Truex Jr. at Martinsville? Denny Hamlin’s wreck at Watkins Glen was caused by a blown tire cutting a brake line. I honestly can’t give you a good reason why NASCAR has not adopted more options for these situations. I would imagine if they felt TIGOR switches were a better option than what we have now, they would bring them in. – T.C.
10. From Lost in Texas:
Over the past few weeks, I have gained a new respect for the driver of the Miller Light #2. I have followed him on Twitter for a long time and admire how he handles answering fan’s questions. Hope he does well in the Chase. His accident however brings up a lingering problem in NASCAR. Is it not time for NASCAR to realize that teams will test however they must? The current ban forces teams to tracks that may or may not meet safety standards. How do you feel about NASCAR lifting the testing ban and go back to using tracks that are safe for competition?
Twitter is definitely great for that. There hasn’t been much discussion about the testing limitations. I think from NASCAR’s perspective it’s helping to keep costs down and competition a little more level even though teams are finding some ways around it. Teams kind of test at their own risk – and to some extent there is only so much they can learn from these types of tests. I don’t see any changes in the near term. And outside of the safety issues, I don’t know that I see any benefits to reinstating the open testing. – Journo
11. From Christopher:
During the Michigan race, under green, I saw Kyle Busch put his hand out the window. Harvick was behind him. What may he have been signaling? He wasn’t out of gas or otherwise telling him to pass him (which I’ve seen). Are there standard signals (other than the one-fingered salute, ha!) that drivers give to each other?
He was probably doing it to get some air in the car – this is not an infrequent thing drivers do. – Journo
12. From Marcus:
What do you think the possibility of Steve Turner buying Red Bull Racing is? And then hiring Mark Martin to mentor his younger drivers? Just a thought I had. Love the site. Thanks!
I think anything is possible, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on this one. Turner is only in his first full season of Nationwide Series ownership, and I don’t think jumping into the Cup Series with a team that currently has no sponsorship lined up is a massive risk. Remember when he bought Braun they had existing deals with Great Clips, Dollar General, and others. I think a move to the Cup Series for Turner is definitely a possibility in the future, but 2012 might be a bit soon. I would not be surprised however if Mark Martin was involved in some form next year with the team. He’s already driven races for them, and a partial NNS/Truck schedule might be perfect for him. – T.C.
13. From Emanuel:
On NASCAR Now Monday night, I think during the segment when they interviewed Smoke, Burton was standing in the background with his firesuit down around his waist. He was wearing a white long sleeve shirt (probably flash gear or something) but over that he was wearing something that I can only compare to body armor or a catcher’s chest guard. Any idea of what this is from my lame description? I’m guessing it’s some sort of cooling equipment. If it is, does it plug into the driver’s A/C like the helmet? As always, great site!
It is my understanding that Burton has been using a new style cooling vest which is based off systems developed for the military. I believe it is a standalone system separate from the driver’s coolbox. – T.C.
14. From Glen:
Why doesn’t NASCAR have a either a code of ethics or behavioral policy to receive or retain a NASCAR license. I would think speeding through a school zone at almost 3 times the speed limit would at least deserve a one weekend unpaid vacation. They are professionals and kids look up to them. NASCAR has put their face of the sport as Kyle he should at behave as the poster child not as a spoiled brat.
That is a good question. Other sports have them and I don’t think it would be a bad idea for NASCAR to institute one. In fairness to Kyle, the section of Perth Rd. he was speeding on is not in a school zone – near a church, but the schools are a few miles down the road. I generally agree with you though. – Journo
Thanks to a Monday Cup race, it’s a short week! The Nationwide haulers are already en route to Montreal, and the Cup and Truck Series are taking on Michigan. And since it’s Wednesday, we’ve got the 139th 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 David:
I have an idea. Since it has been proven that their is more passing with less downforce why doesn’t NASCAR mandate the front spring rates?? To me it would make the cars not coil bind which would lead to less down force,better handling race cars ,and slower speed which would not only benefit the fans when having better races but also the safety standpoint because the cars are going slower. BTW,you guys have an awesome website,keep up the good work.
Has it been proven that less downforce leads to more passing? And you may be one of the few fans I’ve seen actually suggest more rules from NASCAR. Most folks seem to want less regulation. This perception that the racing isn’t as good as it used to be just isn’t true. It’s hard to argue with 17 different race winners and five first time race winners. Now, whether or not your suggestion would actually work, I’m not sure I could say. – T.C.
2. From Ryan:
There are times where I hear a driver apologize to another driver over the scanner for an incident via spotter. I will then tune over to the other driver’s channel and sometimes the spotter does not relay the message. Any reason why?
A spotter just not feel it necessary to relay it, or he may not have the opportunity to do it. He may pass the message on to the other spotter and the other spotter may not feel it necessary to pass it on to the driver. There isn’t any universal reason why. Different circumstances for different situations. – Journo
3. From Brent:
What is Ricky Rudd doing since his retirement? Not much has been said about him since his retirement.
According to a recent blog post from the IMS website, Rudd is just enjoying his retirement. He’s spending time with his family and staying busy with plenty of outdoor activities. – T.C.
4. From Matt:
I only go to 1 or 2 races a year and I want to listen to the race on mrn or listen to a scanner while I’m there on my headphones. I can’t afford to buy an expensive scanner. Is there an app or a less expensive alternative to the expensive scanner radios?
I’m not aware of any apps. Don’t forget that companies like Racing Electronics and Track Scan offer weekend rentals which are much cheaper than purchasing your own scanner equipment. Also, eBay or Craigslist might not be bad options for finding cheaper, pre-owned scanners. – T.C.
5. From Kortni:
Is Carl Edwards going to come back to his home town and race?
I think that is probably only something Edwards knows. There isn’t a major NASCAR event in Columbia, MO, and his busy NASCAR schedule probably keeps him from running smaller events. I wish I had a better answer for you. – T.C.
6. From Constance:
If Hendrick owns the four cars why are other persons listed as the owners such as Jeff Gordon and Mary Hendrick?
It’s procedural – it doesn’t mean anything. Jeff Gordon actually is, somewhere along the way, the co-owner of the #48 team with Rick Hendrick. What exactly that means I’m not really sure, but it sounds good, right? Journo
7. From Kevin:
Love your site and the ability to ask questions like this: A question popped in my head during the Watkins Glen rain delay. Does each track provide their own jet dryers or does NASCAR? The broadcast said they had eight of them at the track. If NASCAR does, why can’t they bring more to tracks like the Glen and Pocono to speed up the drying?
Thanks Kevin! Jet dryers are expensive and really unnecessary for every track to own. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn’t. What the big track owners, SMI and ISC, have are several track dryers at tracks throughout their portfolio and if there is a prospect of rain they’re brought out. Obviously ISC owns Watkins Glen, and the chance of rain this weekend was very real so they brought out dryers from other facilities that have them. – Journo
8. From Eddie:
At Watkins Glen I heard Denny Hamlin mention something about a 7 point safety harness and how it helped him during his wreck. So what’s the difference between a 5 and 7 point system and which drivers have the 7 point system???
A 7-point system adds two leg straps to a traditional 5-point system. You can see an example of one at Summit Racing. And I honestly couldn’t give you a full run down of who uses them. - T.C.
9. From Christopher:
Do drivers ever hate a product they endorse. I always see those who are sponsored by coke drinking a coke while waiting for the race to begin. And same with Red Bull, etc. I, personally can?t stand cola or energy drinks. If I had to race- drinking either would make me almost sick, so I absolutely wouldn?t before getting into the car.
I’m sure there are. I can’t give you any specifically but just as you and I don’t like things, I suspect drivers find themselves with sponsors whose products they don’t enjoy. Things taste a little better though when you’re getting paid to like it. - Journo
10. From Ray:
After watching the race at Watkins Glen and seeing several types of crashes, which material is better for absorbing the impact of a crash, rubber tires or a safer barrier? Why? Also, what is the cost of the safer barrier? I assume this is why tracks have not installed it everywhere.
I am not an engineer, but from everything I know, the SAFER barrier does a far better job absorbing energy from a hit and then distributing that energy away. Tires, if hit correctly, will absorb energy but then they send all the energy back to the thing hitting it – much the way a rubber ball bounces back to you if you throw it on a hard surface. SAFER barriers cost about $500 a foot to install. You can imagine around a decent sized race track, you’re looking at several million dollars. – Journo
At Watkins Glen, I saw some of the track drying trucks had the Talledega Motorspeedway logo on them. Why’s that? Does each track not have their own? I believe I also saw the same when watching the Coke 600 live a few years back.
See my response to question 7. – Journo
It’s backwards week! The Cup and NNS cars are headed to Watkins Glen and that means backward pit stops. But don’t worry, this 138th edition of ATIW is not backward. 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 Kim:
When Kasey comes off pit road, I often hear his spotter, Kole, tell him to “remember your blend”. Any idea what that means? I only listen to Kasey’s in-car so I’m not sure if that is a common term or not. Sounds like it has something to do with merging into traffic, but he only says it at certain tracks. Thanks!
I’m guessing this was a green flag pit stop. He was just telling him to remember where to blend back up onto the race track – it’s different at different tracks – usually on the backstretch. – Journo
2. From Court:
What is the timeline for tracks to install SAFER barriers around the entire track and inside wall?
I don’t believe there is a specific deadline from NASCAR on SAFER barrier installation. There aren’t many tracks left that don’t have barriers all the way around the inside and outside wall, and I’m guessing those that have gaps feel they aren’t necessary. But if there is one thing you can be sure of, a wrecking race car will eventually find all those non-SAFER walls. – T.C.
3. From Dot:
TC or Journo, I was just watching nascar Now and Andy Petree was giving his opinion on why there have been so many fuel mileage races (6). He said that it’s the tires that aren’t falling off as much as before and drivers are now learning to conserve fuel. Isn’t it the E85 fuel they’re using? I’ve heard that you get less miles per gallon. Was he being polite because of “being green” is the new hot topic? I just wonder if someone will be upfront about this. Thanks guys.
Can we really say there have been more fuel mileage races this season than in years past? The tires definitely haven’t fallen off as much this season, but I’m not sure if that has a direct effect on fuel mileage races. You are correct in that the teams are able to get less miles per gallon with the new E15 fuel. Remember that fuel mileage races usually occur at places that have multiple racing grooves. More racing room means less cautions. And there are plenty of big 1.5 mile tracks on the circuit. – T.C.
4. From Lost in Texas:
Sure would have added to the drama of the season had this story not broke for a month or two, but understand why it had to for his championship run to be the best. With Carl staying at RFR, what does it look like for open seats at the top level and what are the best prospects to fill them? Who do you think will be gone from rides for the next season? Wonder how much Ford kicked into the pot to make this happen? You both provide a great source of information for the fans, keep up the great work.
Thanks! There really aren’t any open seats at the sport’s top teams unless Ganassi or RCR don’t re-sign their current drivers, or Gibbs and Stewart-Haas create new teams. I think the leading candidate for losing his ride at the end of the season is David Ragan, especially if UPS decides to leave. He’s under contract with Roush through next season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be driving a Cup car. There haven’t been any numbers announced with Ford but it was an incentive program that included stock in the company. – Journo
5. From Christopher F:
Why do they call a race if it rains out after halfway? Its not like baseball where you have 162 games- so one is fairly meaningless. Its really a disservice to the fans- just finish it Monday already!
It’s twofold. From the economic side, every extra day teams have to stay at the track is more money out of their pockets – in some cases rescheduled flights, hotel rooms, food, per diem, rental cars etc. It adds up. It also costs NASCAR, the track and fans extra to see the race finished. On the logistics end, team haulers have to travel back to Charlotte to re-supply and have to get somewhere else by the following Thursday or Friday. It’s at best costly; at worst it’s just not feasible. – Journo
6. From Christopher F:
Strange question maybe- why do they bother covering the cars in the rain? Water isn’t going to hurt them, is it? Just curious.
Yes, water can cause problems. Unlike your road car, stock cars are not built to be driven in the rain, so they aren’t sealed up. Water can adversely affect engines and the cars’ electrical components. – T.C.
7. From kirkus:
First, thanks for a great inside look into the NASCAR world! Love following you guys! When drivers get into their cars and put up the safety net over the window, it looks like a crew person tapes something where the clasp is. Is that tape? What is the purpose of it? Does it hinder getting out of the car?
Yes, some teams do put tape on the latch for the window net. It’s just there to make sure the latch stays in place during the race. And no, it doesn’t hinder the driver when he needs to get out in a hurry. – T.C.
8. From Derek:
Great site! How do the NASCAR officials tell if there is a missing lug nut after a pit stop? The stops happen so quickly it seems like it would be hard to see. Have the officials ever made a mistake calling a car back to the pits when all lug nuts are present?
Pit stops do happen quickly, but the officials definitely have enough time to see if all the lugnuts are installed; especially on the right side. Remember that lugnuts are painted yellow or pink and are glued onto black wheels (usually). If one is missing, it stands out. And I believe it has happened where penalties were called by mistake, but I don’t remember specific cases off the top of my head. – T.C.
9. From Cinde:
Still loving our weekly Insiders email!! Thanks!! It’s been awhile, but when someone asked me this weekend why Kyle Petty wears the #45 hat with the black line through the number, I could not remember. Please refresh my memory… Thank you!
So glad to hear that Cinde! Kyle wears that hat in memory of his son Adam, who drove the #45 and was killed during practice for the Nationwide race at New Hampshire in 2000. – Journo
10. From Brad:
Hi Guys, enjoying the blog as always. Any more word on NAPA leaving MWR? I read they have had some management changes as well, and performance has not been what one had hoped…….How do you think things look for the future of that team? Thanks for any insight!
We know that NAPA is exploring their options, but not really more than that. I’m sure there is a chance they could leave MWR, but there is also probably a solid chance they stay. Obviously that team hasn’t performed like they’d hoped, and it sounds like Martin Truex Jr. isn’t happy either. If NAPA does leave, I think MWR would have a very tough time finding a solid replacement sponsor for the #56. They definitely need to find a way to run better over the last part of the season. – T.C.
11. From Mike:
I know you can’t work on cars during the red flags but during an extended red or like the truck race that was moved to the next day are you allowed to do anything before they start back up. I would think at least tire pressure would be a big safety issue.
It depends on the situation. On Sunday during the Cup race, the teams were not allowed to touch anything on the cars. Setting pressures after the cars have been sitting over night is not unheard of, but no major changes are allowed. The cars (or trucks) are technically impounded. – T.C.
12. From Alex:
Hey guys, love the site, but there is something I don’t understand about sponsorships. I understand why companies like Target, 3M & GoDaddy.com sponsor in NASCAR so there products, stores, or websites can get new customers, but I don’t understand why the National Guard (#88), US Air Force (#43) and US Army (#39) sponsor in NASCAR and in other racing series like Indycar and drag racing. Are they trying to get support and donations or trying to recruit people? Or something else?
Thanks Alex! Remember sponsorships, while a good venue to advertise, provide sponsors other incentives as well. For instance, Target uses it as a way to upsell vendors within their stores (they actually end up recouping most of the cost of the sponsorship through the program); most use their sponsorship as a business development tool; Pennzoil and Dupont have separate deals to supply the auto dealerships owned by Roger Penske and Rick Hendrick in addition to their sponsorship deals. For the military organizations involved in NASCAR, they use the sponsorship as a recruiting and awareness tool as part of a larger activation plan. – Journo
13. From Marc:
As always, you have a great site. A quick question: Does KHI prepare the RCR #21 Tim George Nationwide cars?
Thanks Marc! They do – KHI prepares all of the RCR affiliated Nationwide cars. – Journo
The summer continues to roll along with Pocono (Trucks & Cup) and Iowa (NNS) up next. Hopefully the drama we’ve seen all season long continues. While we all work through another Wednesday, here’s the 137th round of reader questions and our 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…
A few weeks ago, Carl Edwards attributed the lack of passing to Sprint Cup cars having too much downforce, especially on 1.5 mile tracks. Right after his engine blew up at Kentucky, Jamie McMurray mentioned that he felt the Goodyear tires weren’t degrading enough, something which would add another grove to the track and allow for passing. Can you elaborate on these comments and possible solutions for NASCAR?
I would imagine that both drivers are probably correct to some extent. I think though that even in the age of computers and engineers, there is still a lot they don’t understand about how the cars react at speed, and around each other. The cars and components will probably always be a work in progress in the pursuit of the best racing possible. – T.C.
2. From Christopher F:
How many cars do the most well funded racers have? Or, what is the most amount of cars you’ve heard of a racer having?
Some smaller budget teams may only have three or four cars, while bigger multi-car organizations will have 20+ cars. – Journo
3. From Ryan:
Can you explain why Sadler was moved to 4th for the restart. I believe he was in 3rd when the 2nd place car caught on fire & went to the pits. Why was he moved back to 4th not up 2nd? What did I miss there? Thanks.
This is the explanation from KHI’s post-race report:
The No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet restarted in the fourth position on lap 184. The field slowed again for the fourth caution three laps later for oil on the track, with Sadler running in the third position. As the field moved into double-file formation for the restart, the car in the second position, starting on the outside of the front row, had fire coming from the underneath. Officals waved off the restart for the car on fire to come off the track. The field adjusted their positions per NASCAR’s double-file restart rules, leaving Sadler to line up on the inside of the second row for the restart.
- Journo
4. From Nick:
I’m still curious about the Modified aftermath with Ryan Newman at New Hampshire. Did he personally hand over the trophy to Todd Szegedy since he’s no longer the winner, or does Newman still have it in his possession? Or does Szegedy not want the trophy since he didn’t beat Newman straight up?
I can’t say for sure, but I would assume Newman would return/has returned the trophy. All parties involved have acknowledged and accepted the penalty, and Szegedy was declared the winner after the fact – I don’t see why they would hang on to it. – Journo
5. From Amy:
It had been mentioned several times last week and at Indy that Jimmie had a new pit crew member courtesy of Stewart-Haas Racing. Do you know which crew the team member came from and was that person on loan or was he hired away? Is it common practice to raid other pit crews? Do pit crew members have contracts?
The #48′s new front tire changer at Indy was Dave Collins. He was a part of SHR’s backup crew program. I am not aware if Collins is the new full time guy, or if the move is just temporary. Most pit crew guys anymore have contracts if they are with the major organizations. With so much at stake, teams can’t afford to lose their guys to rival organizations mid-season. But when contracts run out, let the free-for-all begin. – T.C.
It’s Indy week! The Cup cars are headed to the big track for the Brickyard 400 and the Nationwide and Truck Series take to LORP for their final races. And since it’s Wednesday, we’ve got the 136th version 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 Rusty:
Hello Insiders, I’d like to get your perspective on a couple of Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday issues: 1) In a mail item last week you discussed NASCAR moving to port injection. If one of the goals of this move is for racing teams to help manufacturers advance the technology found in street cars – does port injection really make any sense? 2) Ford announced that they were sticking with the Fusion for Sprint Cup rather than switching to the Mustang. I really like the look of the Nationwide Mustang (and the Nationwide Challenger). I don’t understand sticking with the Fusion since the only Fusion you can buy with a stick shift is the bottom of the barrel econo model. Is there a reason for sticking with sedan models in Sprint Cup? Seems like history would support using coupes.
Well, I’m guessing the move will help with the computer control systems. Obviously port injection is being replaced by direct injection, so the actual components don’t matter. As to your second question, Ford must believe that using the Fusion in the Cup Series is better for their marketing efforts than a switch to the Mustang. Keep in mind that Chevrolet still uses the Impala in both the Nationwide and Cup Series. – T.C.
2. From Mr. Clause:
I’ve seen just a couple of notes recently about the Gibbs engines not fitting in the chassis of other Toyota’s with the TRD engines. Got any idea why? I know sometimes it used to be engine mounting or plumbing issues but this almost seems like a different configuration somehow. Can you guys shed any light on this? Thanks!
Are mounting and plumbing differences not considered configuration issues? They might both have Toyota on the valve covers, but TRD and JGR build different engines. And like I’ve said before, I won’t go into specifics because if I work for JGR I won’t share, and if I work somewhere else I don’t know. – T.C.
To expand on Chris in So Cal’s question (last week) regarding J Mac’s loss of radio communication. Don’t the drivers, spotters or crew chiefs wonder about the silence? Doesn’t that tip them off that something might be wrong? If J Mac could hear his spotter, couldn’t he relay the info about saving gas? Can the crew chief and the spotter talk to each other? Thanks.
When radios go out it’s generally quickly apparent to everyone involved for the reason you note. Since I’m not really sure what the ultimate situation was with McMurray it’s hard to say who could hear who. And yes, spotters and crew chiefs can communicate with each other. – Journo
4. From George:
Why did Jack Roush not come too victory lane when Carl won at Nashville on Saturday? Do you think Carl told him he was leaving?
I can’t tell you why Jack wasn’t in victory lane. I think there are any number of reasons to explain it – some of those reasons are innocent, others are not. - Journo
5. From Tim:
I sometimes wonder if team owners are capable of independent thought. Is it normal for this many crew chief changes in the middle of the season, or, if you prefer, 10 or so races before the Chase cut-off? Or is this a case of one owner twitching, and the rest of the owners thinking they have to play catch-up, or, if you prefer, monopolize on a trend to clear dead weight? How can teams 1) re-set, 2) re-gel, and 3) re-energize in that little amount of time? As always, thanks for your dedication to the sport and your willingness to share.
Well the changes we’ve seen have been a direct result of performance issues. For Burton, Allmendinger, Biffle and Montoya the idea is that the new crew chiefs will improve things. This is kind of the final roll of the dice to make something of the season before building for next season. Changes like this are not uncommon in the middle of the year – the reason we’re seeing all of these right now is because we’re in a break. I promise there isn’t group-think going on for these owners. Journo
It’s an off week for the Cup Series, but never fear, there is still plenty of NASCAR action on tap for the weekend. The Trucks and Nationwide cars are off to tackle the concrete of Nashville Superspeedway on Friday and Saturday night. While you work through another week, here’s another round of reader 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 Chris:
I have been watching NASCAR for several years now and I notice that certain tracks (mostly intermediate tracks) seem boring and allow the cars to get spread out. I just went to the Kentucky race and it is one of the tracks I am talking about. I’ve never seen a good race there, in any of the series. So…is it really the track style that promotes the cars getting spread out? And why? Or is it something else. Whatever it is, I don’t like it!
Yes, it is absolutely the track style that causes the spread out racing. Usually on these types of tracks, there is plenty of room to race thanks to the track’s length and width. Multiple grooves mean drivers can race from the top to the bottom, and race side by side with less danger of crashing. Drivers don’t need to root each other up out of the groove to pass. Wide tracks mean long green flag runs, and spread out fields. – T.C.
2. From Neon:
TC and Journo-I wanted to give you a full week to ponder this question. Speaking from your “insider’s” perspective, can both of you list some items (both technical and non-technical) within NASCAR racing as a whole that you feel could or should be changed, or left alone for that fact? Maybe they are to benefit the fans, or NASCAR, or you personally as your livelihood is within the industry. TNI’s version of the fan council if you will. You have the floor…
Hmmm… I think a lot is going well right now. As with everything I think there could be more transparency for the benefit of fans; it would be great to see cars that looked a little prettier; and it would be nice to see NASCAR making more changes for the benefit of racing and fans, instead of the benefit of their bottom line (cough, Indianapolis, cough). – Journo
This is going to sound totally self serving, but I wish NASCAR and the broadcast partners did more to promote the crew guys. There are so many great stories in the garage area and up and down pit road that could be shared. I feel like NASCAR is missing out on a solid opportunity to add compelling content to the broadcasts by overlooking the crew guys. I also think we should bring back the old way of fueling the cars. Bring back the old cans and let the catch can guys get back at it. The fuel is too much of a question mark right now, and I think it’s taken away some of the competitiveness from pit road. I agree with Journo that the cars need to keep evolving into a more stock look, and I think NASCAR needs to significantly improve their online offerings. RaceBuddy needs to exist for all events, and things like streaming race replays and more video are desperately needed. – T.C.
3. From Anthony:
Just read the question about fueling a car on a right side tire change pit stop made me think of this question when a car is jacked up on the right side and being fueled from the left side which would be the lower side, seams that then the fuel cell would not be able to be completely filled because of it being higher on the right side, or is the fuel cell designed to be filled cpmpletely even at a angle?
I believe you would be right. The cells fill from the middle, so if the car were left jacked up on the right side, I don’t believe it would be possible to get it completely full. Usually though, if a team is going to do just right side tires and a full load of fuel, you’ll see the jack man lower the jack on the right side so as to get the car completely full. – T.C.
4. From James:
Do tire changers “specialize” in being front or rear on a team or do they change up from race to race?
For the most part, yes, the changers stay where they are each week. There are plenty of guys up and down pit road that can do both front and rear, but unless there is some problem that needs to be addressed, guys won’t just switch. Rear guys stay on the rear and front guys stay on the front. – T.C.
5. From Michael in SoCal:
Hi Insiders. Quick question about the Camping World Truck Series – how feasible would it be to make the trucks all-weather vehicles, so that they could race in the rain? I noticed that the in the British Pickup Truck racing series, the racetrucks have rear safety lights, windshield wipers and rain tires to allow rain racing. I thought this would make for an interesting element for the series, although the high number of rookies who race in the NCWTS might make this improbable. Thanks for all the great insight.
Hi Michael! NASCAR has repeatedly proven the feasibility of running stock cars in the rain on road courses which is almost exclusively what the UK Pickup Truck Series races on (the exception being their Rockingham). The problem is, the racing isn’t very good when we’ve run races in the rain – on top of that is the issue of running rain tires on ovals, which is exclusively what the trucks run. – Journo
6. From Christopher:
I have been watching racing for my whole life and I am still in awe of how good these drivers, crews and cars are. So often, lap times for a majority of the field are within tenths or hundreths of a second. I realize that drivers have different attributes and prefer different set-ups, but where would you say the biggest differences come in: the cars or the drivers? For example, if you look at different teams, you see sometimes big disparities in performance on a weekly basis: Busch and Logano, Johnson and Earhardt Jr., Harvick and Burton, etc. So I ask that in conjunction with this: What aspects of a team do drivers look at when they are changing teams? As always, thanks guys!
At the sport’s best teams, it’s a combination of a lot of things. The driver, the equipment, the crew chief, etc. Gibbs is a perfect example – Kyle Busch is winning because (1) Kyle is a great driver, (2) he has a good crew chief, and (3) and he’s in good equipment. Joey Logano also has (1) good equipment and (2) a good crew chief, but he’s less experienced than Kyle and is therefore not as dominate (certainly that could change). Drivers consider the above criteria when making a move, but team stability, sponsorship and money certainly play a role too. Drivers want to be competitive, want to win races and championships, but they, like any of us, want to make money too. – Journo
7. From Michael in SoCal:
Hi Guys. So it seemed Jamie McMurray didn’t have a functioning radio during Sunday’s race, hence his crew guys making a sign late in the race telling him to ‘Save Gas’. I thought you had to have a functioning radio so that you can communicate with (or at least hear) your spotter. Why was the #1 allowed to remain on the track without a working radio? Thanks.
NASCAR does require teams to have working radios, but I’m not sure if it was just that they couldn’t hear McMurray, or if neither side could hear the other. I will say if NASCAR thought it was an issue, McMurray would have been black flagged. – Journo
8. From Chris:
The 88 was penalized for a tire violation and sent to the end of the longest line during the last caution period at New Hampshire. the only thing i saw was one of the crew guys fall on a tire while it was still in the pit box while the care left, is that the violation? or did i miss something? thanks! love your site, you guys do a great service answering these questions!
Thanks Chris! According to the rule the tire has to be halfway back to pit wall when the car leaves the stall. Since the crew member tripped over the tire it was technically in violation of the rule. It’s one of those things that is at the discretion of the official, but rules are rules. – Journo
All three series are again in action this week, but not at the same track. The Truck Series takes on Iowa while the Cup and Nationwide Series head Nawth to New Hampsha. As we wait for the weekend to arrive, here is another round 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 Anthony:
I just read the post about the fuel injection and was wondering if NASCAR will still be able to use restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega with the fuel injection or will they come up with some other way to cut the horsepower on Cup cars? I for one would love to see a Daytona and Talladega race without any restrictor plates , now that would be a very good race, the drivers are good enough to know when to lift off of the gas on all of the other tracks, why not Daytona and Talladega? Great site I check it daily to see what is new and I like the question and answer section you guys have keep up the good work! Thanks.
I don’t believe NASCAR has made a decision yet on the future of the restrictor plate. There have been some public comments from John Darby and Robin Pemberton that point to NASCAR continuing to use some form of restriction, but what exact form that will take has yet to be determined. I do think that allowing the cars to race completely unrestricted would be a mistake. – T.C.
2. From Joe:
Will NASCAR’s fuel injection system be cutting edge 1988, that is port fuel injection? Or will it be cutting edge 2006, that is direct inside-the-cylinder injection? What does NASCAR hope to accomplish with port injection? Emissions will be no more than incrementally better. Saying “We now have port fuel injection!” is like saying “I now have a Tandy 2000 computer!” (You might be an old guy if you remember Tandy 2000s.) To sum up my question: Why?
The EFI system NASCAR is going to is port injected. I don’t believe they are really concerned about emissions, but it’s a small added benefit. They are switching to align more with modern cars, which is what the manufacturers want. Trying to get back some semblance of “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” is important to the car makers. It will help with marketing efforts and the teams can work with the manufacturers to help develop new technology. – T.C.
I read not to long ago that you two (T.C. and Journo) worked on pit crews in the cup races do you work for one driver crew or more and can you tell us who those drivers are or is that classified?
We aren’t both crew members. Our “About the Insiders” page has more details on both of our backgrounds, but the short version is Journo has spent time in media and communication positions around the sport, and I’m the crew member. I can’t reveal which series I work in or which driver I work for, but if you’ve watched any races this season on TV, you’ve seen me change tires on pit road. – T.C.
4. From Bill:
Just watching the pre-race on TNT. Zippy is talking to Larry Mac about the “keys to the race.” Zippy mentioned that you get less fuel in the car on a right sides-only stop versus fuel-only or a full stop. Why is this? And, do the teams get to measure (weigh?) the gas cans after a stop to determine how much they got into the fuel cell? Or, is it just a pure guessing game? Keep up the great work on the blog, btw!
First off, thanks, glad you like the site! Two tire stops take half as much time, so if the car is leaving on the drop of the jack, the gas man only has about 6 seconds to get fuel in the car. If they can wait on fuel though, it is possible to get the car full on a two tire stop. We saw that a bunch at Daytona, where teams would just get two tires but would wait on gas. And yes, teams weigh the gas cans after a pit stop to make a determination on how much fuel they got in the cell. – T.C.
5. From Glen:
Its getting very boring watching all three series races and seeing the 18 all the time. I got an idea to keep Kyle Busch out of the lesser series. You will only be allowed happy hour in cup,no other practice. Maybe it would be fun to watch Hornaday race Bodine or Skinner for a win again. The only exemption to that rule would be less than 3 years full time cup experience you would be allowed to compete in all 3 races.
It’s not a bad plan Glen. I remember getting sick of watching Mike Skinner and Ron Hornaday win races – I’m wishing for those days again. The fact is Kyle is going to dominate or win any race he’s in. The hope now is that he won’t be there every week. – Journo
6. From John:
The headline on Foxsports.com sunday morning read ” kyle busch dominates for his 99th win” what is your opinion of media outlets and others showing such blatent disregard for the sports history and its icons. kyle only has 22 cup wins so why is it acceptable for the media to try and make it seem like he’s halfway to Petty and better than Waltrip and Allison.
I think what you have to remember is that news media is concerned with what’s happening right now. Kyle is dominate and very visible at the moment, so his achievements are going to seem amplified. I don’t think anyone is suggesting he’s Petty, Waltrip or Allison, but he is among the more talented drivers in the sport today. I think that’s the point that was being made. I agree with you though that the headline could have been a little more clear. – Journo
7. From Angry KB Fan:
Robbie Gordon gets “popped” (his words) doing 134MPH in his Hemi Jeep and not a peep from the hypocritical NASCAR press or fans. Kyle Busch is still getting grief, an Robbie Gordon gets NO attention for JUST as egregious an act.
Consider this: Kyle Busch has three wins and sits 1st in the points; Robby Gordon’s best finish this season is 16th at the Daytona 500, he’s averaging a 31.5 finish and sits 34th in the points. And Robby hasn’t raced since Daytona. The reason a big deal was made over Kyle and not Robby is the same reason a big deal was made about AJ Allmendinger getting a DUI and a less big deal was made about Michael Annett getting a DUI; it’s why you hear when an A-list celebrity does something stupid and you don’t when a c-list celebrity does that same thing. The point is, Kyle is relevant and Robby Gordon is all but. - Journo
It’s a short week! Thanks to the Fourth of July, we’ve only got a few days before cars and trucks will be back on track. All three major NASCAR series are in action this weekend at Kentucky. While we all work through another hump day, here’s the 133rd version of reader questions and our 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 Eric:
A follow up to my question last week, Elliott Sadler did have rookie stripes on his car at tracks he had never been on. I understand he’s never raced at these tracks before, but I’m sure half the field hasn’t either. Is this a NASCAR thing, KHI thing or Sadler?
All the rule book says about rookie stripes is that they must be displayed on the rear bumper of any car driven by a rookie as determined by the series director. – T.C.
2. From Jensen:
Last weekend I was watching the F1 race and noticed that all of the teams store their tires in warming blankets until just before they go on the car. Do the NASCAR teams do anything like this? I couldn’t ever remember hearing it mentioned but I wasn’t sure.
The use of tire blankets is not allowed in NASCAR. Teams are allowed to warm the oil prior to races, but not tires. – T.C.
3. From Tyler:
Looking at old pictures, you see a lot of them where the drivers are kneeling beside their car in the Daytona infield, like they all had to pose that way. When did they stop doing that?
I think it’s just one of those things that changed with the times. Today everything is done in studios for sponsors paying tens of millions of dollars. A photographer shooting guys kneeling in front their cars in the Daytona infield doesn’t really suffice. – Journo
With the fuel injection systems coming soon to Nascar I have a two part question. First what type of injection system will be used, throttle body, port injectors or direct injection? Second, will this have any effect on the current ignition systems, as in advance curves etc.?
The fuel injection systems coming to NASCAR will be electronic, and teams are being allowed to test them for the first time at a test coming up at Kentucky in July. Check out articles here and here for more details. As to your second question, I’m sure all the details will be worked out as teams test the new configurations. – T.C.
I was watching Tony Stewart’s Hot Pass channel during the Coke Zero 400. His spotter kept saying things like “10 in front, 30 in back” and “5 in front, 10 in back”… always multiples of 5. Any idea what that means? He clearly wasn’t calling out specific car numbers or the number of cars in front of him and behind him.
What I’m guessing is that you were hearing spotter Bob Jeffrey telling Stewart how many car lengths that his competitors were in front and behind him. Stewart needs this information to know if he’s catching the guys out front, or getting caught from behind. – T.C.
6. From Mike:
I’m confused about your recent article detailing the 48 team’s experiment with their pit crew. You seem unconvinced that Chad’s idea is working, yet you routinely list them as one of the fastest pit crews throughout the season (according to NASCAR data). Explain?
You are correct that I’m not convinced about Knaus’ pit crew experiment, but we don’t routinely list them as one of the fastest pit crews. What we post every week on Twitter is a list of the crews that were fastest from specific races. The 48 is on that list because they were the fastest crew at Martinsville. – T.C.
7. From Savannah:
With all of the recent hoopla with Kurt Busch, I am now curious. Do the sponsors have a clause in their sponsorship contract with a team that will allow the sponsor to enact a “morality clause”? In other words, if a driver acts in a manner, whether in public or private, that is offensive to the sponsor, can they pull the plug right then and there on the sponsorship. Also, do some sponsors go into an agreement dictating what actions they consider to be inappropriate? I do agree that the private lives of the drivers should remain private. That is unless, they do something very blatant, ex. arrested for DUI. Thanks again for answering the questions and for having a great website.
I can’t say I’ve heard of a morality clause in a contract, that said, anything is certainly possible. Sponsors have expectations about the conduct of those they’re pouring money into – and when issues arise they’re more than happy to let teams and drivers know they’re unhappy. Making that expectation contractually clear is one way to do it. – Journo