Beginning in Daytona, for the first time in recent memory, there won’t be seven guys stepping off the wall to perform a pit stop. The time has finally come to bid farewell to the most forgettable, and apparently most replaceable, member of the pit crew, the catch can man.
As we told you first early last year, NASCAR is removing the catch can in favor of a self-venting gas can (aka closed loop fueling system). The new can has been in place in the Truck Series for the last year.
This move of course represents a big game changer for the sport’s top series. While it’s been implemented elsewhere, Cup crews are still working hard to figure out the best way to perform stops.
The catch can position was much more than what the name suggested. In addition to being in place to catch fuel overflow, the position was also responsible for making adjustments, holding the first can of fuel, and on occasion pulling tires. Those roles are now falling to the six guys who remain.
This move also means pit stops are going to be slower. The new can doesn’t drain as quickly as the old ones – that’s good news for the guys that now have a lot more to do.
From the get go, NASCAR has billed this as a safety advancement and a cost saving measure. On paper those things sound good and look good. Most catch can guys throughout the sport got paid for what they did. It also took 43 people off pit road. Surely an advancement for safety.
Then again, behind the wall, teams now need two people to hand/catch the fuel cans (before one was enough). And a lot of the pit support guys get paid for their work on pit road. Add on top of that the cost of switching over cans and the time and resources that are being spent to make this way of doing things work and the cost savings are not so much – especially in the short run.
How about safety? Well you certainly have fewer people on pit road now. But this new self venting can is much more difficult to plug. That means more spilled fuel and more potential for fire. How would you like to be the rear tire changer who gets drenched in racing fuel?
This move really never made a whole lot of sense, and it’s not that the cans don’t work, it’s that the reasons for doing this really worked better in theory than in practice. It is what it is though.
Personally, it saddens me to see the end of seven man pit crews – it’s the end of an era. Rest in peace catch can position. I know I’ll miss you.
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At the beginning of the last two years since we opened TNI, we’ve done a rumor scorecard for the previous season. (See the ’08 and ’09 scorecards here and here.) With 2010 now officially behind us, I figured it was time to grade ourselves and our reporting for the year. Before I do though, let me just point out that for 2008 and 2009, our record is 19-3-3 (19 correct, 3 wrong, 3 pushes). Here we go…
Marc Davis To Race At Vegas: Our first rumor of 2010 was that Marc Davis would run the NNS race at Las Vegas. The deal was 99% done we’d heard (he was even on the entry list), but ended up falling apart at the last minute. Davis didn’t end up racing. We’ll call it minus one for the Insiders.
Another New Crew Chief for Robby Gordon: We heard in March that after starting the season with Iain Watts as crew chief, newly hired “consultant” Larry Carter would be taking over as crew chief for RGM. We know for certain that he did call some races for the #7 team, but whether or not he was ever actually officially the crew chief is unclear. Carter was one of several to call a race for RGM in 2010. We’ll call this a push.
NASCAR Considering Eliminating Catch Can Man: With the Truck Series as a test bed, we told you early in April that NASCAR was considering eliminating the catch can position and having both the Cup and Nationwide Series use the new self-vented fuel can. Over the course of the year, NASCAR listened to feedback on the rule change from many in the sport, and in the end, the rule was implemented. The official announcement was made just a few short weeks ago. Plus one for the Insiders.
Front Row Penalized Over Bleeder Valves: After Pocono in June, we were the first to tell you about a possible penalty coming from NASCAR over Front Row Motorsports’ possible use of illegal bleeder valves. We heard a short time later that NASCAR was preparing to hand down their biggest penalty for cheating ever. In the end however, Front Row was penalized but it wasn’t a record sanction. Before the penalty was announced, one unsubstantiated rumor we’d heard was that FRM owner Bob Jenkins actually privately pleaded with NASCAR to levy a smaller fine and points penalty, as anything larger would have put him out of business completely. Obviously, there was no way of knowing if that was actually true or not. We’ll call this plus one, and minus one for the Insiders.
Billy Johnson To Drive for RFR at Watkins Glen: We were the first to tell you that GRAND-AM driver Billy Johnson would be making his NNS debut for Roush Fenway Racing at Watkins Glen. Johnson started ninth in RFR’s #6 Ford, but was caught up in a wreck and finished 36th. It was his only NNS race of 2010. Plus one for the Insiders.
TJ Bell Racing with “Green” Sponsor: In August, we reported that T.J. Bell would be racing at Darlington with a new sponsor, Liberty Tire Recycling. Bell went on to make two starts for MAKE Motorsports with Libery on board. Plus one for the Insiders.
Rumors After Watkins Glen: After the NNS race at the Glen, we reported via Twitter that we’d heard NASCAR had taken a box of lugnuts from Marcos Ambrose’s team that they suspected were illegal. The bit was confirmed later by Scene Daily’s Kenny Bruce, but NASCAR ultimately decided there was no issue. In the same post, we told you that Kevin Conway’s days at FRM were numbered. The team had grown tired of his poor performances, and they were looking to bring in another driver. Following denials by his sponsor Extenze (they emailed us specifically), it was announced five days later that Tony Raines would replace Conway for the race at Michigan. We also added that we’d heard Aric Almirola was a candidate for a Cup ride at RPM. Almirola didn’t end up at RPM, but it was reported by both Fox Sports and ESPN that he’d had discussions with the team. We’ll call that plus three for the Insiders.
Darnell & Kenseth To Run RFR NNS Cars: We told you late in August that Roush Fenway would add Erik Darnell and Matt Kenseth to the round robin of drivers getting starts in their NNS cars. Darnell got three starts (Richmond, Dover, Texas), and Kenseth ran at Atlanta to go with two NNS starts he made earlier in the year. Plus one for the Insiders.
RMM Shuts Down #81 Team: Following the Bristol Truck Series race, we told you that Randy Moss Motorsports was shutting down the #81 team of David Starr. RMM did indeed close down their second team, but Starr never missed a beat. After being let go from the #81, he moved over to SS-Green Light Racing and finished the season. RMM would later run a second truck for Tayler Malsam in four races. Plus one for the Insiders.
Turner Motorsports & Marc Davis: While we weren’t the first to report on the possible sale of Braun Racing to Steve Turner, we were the first to tell you it was a done deal and we gave you the first picture of what the new Turner Motorsports would look like. Todd Braun did end up selling his team, and the new Turner Motorsports will have three NCWTS teams and four NNS teams. They will also run Chevrolets. And after a failed attempt to race at Las Vegas earlier in the season, we told you that Marc Davis would be running for R3 Motorsports at Dover. Davis started 30th and finished 23rd. Plus two for the Insiders.
Johanna Long & Tayler Malsam to Trucks: In September, we reported that both Malsam and Long would be making attempts in the NCWTS race at Las Vegas. Both did race at Vegas, and they both ran more races towards the end of the season. Plus two for the Insiders.
Trevor Bayne To RFR: We were the first to report that Bayne to Roush Fenway was a done deal, and that his new team would run a fifth NNS car for him at Kansas in October. Bayne finished out the season with RFR, and is prepared to run a full NNS schedule in 2011, along with an unspecified number of Cup races. Plus one for the Insiders.
Josh Wise To Drive At Charlotte: Josh Wise spent 2010 driving for several different organizations, and we reported in October that he would race at Charlotte for a team backed by veteran tire changer D.J. Copp. Wise started 39th and finished 18th. Plus one for the Insiders.
KHI, Elliott Sadler, RFR Trucks: Later in October we heard that KHI was putting together the personnel for a second full time Nationwide Series team, and that Elliott Sadler may run some races for them. Both turned out to be true, as it was later announced that Sadler will run the full 2011 schedule for KHI with sponsorship from CitiFinancial. We also told you that there were rumors that Ron Hornaday was shopping for a new NCWTS ride. We’d heard he had conversations with several organizations, but he ended up re-signing with KHI. The last bit we gave you was that Roush Fenway was working on resurrecting their Truck Series program. This story has cooled way down since then, but there is still a small chance it could happen. I’ll give us plus one, a push, and leave the RFR bit as still pending.
Caitlin Shaw To Race At Phoenix: In November we told you about yet another female driver who would be racing in 2010. Caitlin Shaw, after making one start in 2009, returned to the Truck Series in a truck prepared by Mario Gosselin’s DGM Racing at Phoenix. She started 33rd and finished 30th. Plus one for the Insiders.
Skinner Out? Kvapil In?: Our most recent rumor for you, we reported that Mike Skinner was likely out at Randy Moss Motorsports, and that the team would replace him with Travis Kvapil. Skinner won’t talk, and no official announcement has come from the team, so we’ll leave this one pending.
As you can see, we had a busy year reporting on the happenings in NASCAR. Our scorecard for the year looks like this: we had 17 correct, two wrong, two pushes, and still have two rumors pending. Adding up all three seasons worth of news and rumors, that makes us 36-5-5. We prove yet again that if you hear it from us, odds are pretty good that it’s true. Our solid track record doesn’t do much to prove that we are who we say we are, but at the very least we are very well connected janitors…
If there is one thing that is for certain once the season ends, it’s that you won’t find half as much information about the sport to consume. The media/blog/social media coverage of the sport slows way down, which one would expect. Just as an example, over the last few weeks our NASCAR-Media list on Twitter has been home to more tweets about football and partying in Las Vegas then it has about anything regarding racing. But just because the media slows down, doesn’t mean the teams do. While the fans count the days until Daytona, the teams are hard at work.
It will certainly be a bit of a busy off season for Nationwide and Cup teams, as they are dealing with new car configurations. The Cup teams must replace all the noises on their race cars to the new splitter-less piece. This means extra time for body and paint guys, and extra time for engineers working in wind tunnels and with simulations. For the NNS teams, they now must focus 100% of their attention towards turning their entire fleets over to their version of the COT. The new car will be used at all NNS races in 2011.
Besides building and improving on their race vehicles, teams will also take this time to clean and prepare pit boxes, tool boxes, and transporters for next season. Anything that is broken will be prepared, and new and improved systems of organization will be implemented.
Changes to the race cars aren’t the only challenges for teams to work on this off season. With the elimination of the catch can, pit crews in both the NNS and Cup Series will spend their down time learning how to make these new style pit stops as fast as possible. A little time to rest up and maybe heal will precede countless hours in the gym and in the practice areas.
The little bit of team business you have probably heard about over the last week or so involves employee layoffs. Three teams of note who’ve had sizeable layoffs this season are Richard Petty Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, and Penske Racing. And while those teams may have made the biggest cuts, other teams have laid employees off as well. This is both a symptom of the economy and of the reality of racing. Teams have always used the off season to make changes to their staffs because of cost cutting, or making room for new hires. One way in which teams can improve is to bring in better or more qualified people, and sometimes that means others will need to be let go. That goes for both the business and competition sides of the sport.
On the flip side, displaced crew members have the next two months to work the phones and use their connections to try and land with a new team for next season. Some will be successful, and others will find homes in other industries.
For teams and drivers that haven’t secured plans for the 2011 season by now, the next two months will be used to try and put deals together. There are always plenty of drivers looking for a ride, and many teams, especially those at the lower levels, are looking to track down sponsors and funding for the future. For many, frustrating days and sleepless nights are ahead.
With very few off weeks during the season, the time between Homestead and Daytona also affords many race team employees the opportunity to finally take vacations. Whether for the holidays to see friends and family, or to just unwind, now is the time for people to get away. In no time, we’ll be back to the grind again.
As the winter days seem to slowly pass, know that the teams are hard at work during this “off season.” There is a lot to do, and the clock is ticking.
We had a question this week in our Ask The Insiders post about what the new six man pit stops will look like and I wanted to take this opportunity to expand a little further on my answer.
Last weekend at California NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed to Scene Daily that both the Cup and Nationwide Series would eliminate the catch can man position for the 2011 season. This confirms what we initially told you back in April. We knew for certain a few weeks ago that NASCAR would be getting rid of the catch can for the Nationwide Series, but NASCAR was back and forth about the Cup Series. We know now that it’s gone completely.
The elimination of the catch can means that all teams will now go to the new self-venting fuel cans like the Truck Series has been using all season. (See it in action here.)
I’m still not entirely clear if this move means we are only allowed six guys over the wall, because I’ve heard some talk that NASCAR may still allow seven. Either way though, pit stops will change, but not drastically. There will still be two tire changers, two tire carriers, and a jackman. And the actual tire changing part of the pit stop won’t change.
What eliminating the catch can position does do is change how many of the adjustments get made. With a seven man crew, the catch can guy makes most of the wedge and track bar adjustments with extended length wrenches. Now, the tire carriers will be tasked with making those adjustments. This will no doubt slow stops down when significant adjustments are needed.
Stops will also slow down, at least at first, because the fueling will take longer with only one crew guy handling the duties. We’ve seen in the Truck Series this season that stop times often get extended when a full fuel load is used. It takes a while to dump both cans, and the gas men must take the old can back to the wall before getting the second. In the past that first can would stay plugged in, thanks to the catch can guy, while the gas man went back for the second can.
It’s interesting to note though that the last two major changes to pit stops (longer studs in the Cup Series and different tire rolling rules) did slow stop times down initially, but after some time to perfect the technique, the times did come back down. I don’t expect this change to be any different.
I also wanted to say that while I’ve heard what NASCAR’s reasoning is for making this change, I don’t necessarily agree. The money that teams could possibly save by having one less guy over the wall is really a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things. The few thousand dollars a year won’t make or break any team, and instead of charging $30,000 less for a sponsorship, teams will just spend that money elsewhere. NASCAR is right in trying to help the teams with budget problems, but this isn’t the way to do it.
Even though the NASCAR Silly Season has quieted down some, there are still plenty of rumors floating around. Here are a few of the bits we’ve heard over the last week or so.
Catch Can Man Back in April we told you that NASCAR was considering eliminating the catch can man for both the Nationwide and Cup Series just like they did for the Truck Series for the 2010 season. For the CWTS, NASCAR implemented a new style gas can that self vented and didn’t require the use of a catch can. We are hearing now that NASCAR has scrapped the idea for the Cup Series, but that they will implement this rule for the NNS for the 2011 season. We are not yet clear on whether this means NASCAR will also allow less than seven crew members over the wall, because we have heard that may not change. What it does do is scrap the catch can position and will probably slow down pit stop times.
More on the new Turner Motorsports We reported a little over a week ago via Twitter that we’d heard the Braun Racing sale to Steve Turner was a done deal. Journo even included that info in his recent post about Mr. Turner. More details are emerging about the deal and what this new Turner Motorsports will most likely be. First, we’ve heard that the team will still probably run 3-4 Nationwide cars next season, and that they may expand their Truck Series program to three teams. We’ve also heard that the team will utilize Chevrolet equipment, and that the current fleet of Braun Toyotas will be switched over. Look for James Buescher, Ricky Carmichael, Reed Sorenson, and Brian Scott to all continue driving for the team, with the rest of the seats still up in the air.
Marc Davis returns at Dover After a failed attempt to get back on track earlier in the season at Las Vegas, we are hearing that R3 Motorsports has reached a deal to run Marc Davis in their #23 Nationwide car at Dover. It will be Davis’ first NASCAR start since Homestead at the end of 2009 and his first NNS start since June of ’09. Davis will be the fifth different driver for R3 this season, with Robert Richardson Jr, Alex Kennedy, Coleman Pressley, and Johnny Sauter having shared the ride. Expect an announcement from the team this week.
Like we always do here at TNI, we will keep you posted if we hear more as these stories develop.
Hope you all enjoyed our little joke earlier, we certainly had fun doing it. This is my real post for today, and don’t worry, none of this is an April Fools prank.
If you will remember, at the start of this season, NASCAR introduced a new style fuel can for the Truck Series that eliminated the need for a catch can guy (See the fuel can in action here). Because of this new can, NASCAR limited the number of over-the-wall crew members in the Truck Series to six: two tire changers, two tire carriers, a jackman, and a fueler. Teams could still technically use a catch can guy, they would just have to eliminate one of the other positions.
We are hearing now that NASCAR is seriously considering bringing this new style fuel can to both the Nationwide and Cup Series for the 2011 season. If this happens, it would mean the elimination of the catch can man for both of these two series as well.
I’m not 100% certain about NASCAR’s rationale for the change, but I’m guessing they would say it is a safety issue and will save the teams money. It basically removes 43 people from pit road and means teams don’t need to bring (or pay) a catch can guy.
In my opinion, I don’t think this change would really accomplish anything. If teams aren’t spending that little bit of money on a catch can man, they are just going to spend it somewhere else. It isn’t like a NASCAR team is going to be broken by the few thousand dollars it takes to have a crew member catch gas during a pit stop. When we are talking about $15-$20 million budgets, what is a few thousand?
As for the safety issue, I’ve heard some say it’s more dangerous for the catch can man, because he has his back to pit road during the pit stop. But to be honest with you, he is not really in any better or worse position then the rest of us over the wall. When I’m hitting lugnuts, it’s not like I’m looking around to see if I’m going to get hit by another car. I’m focused on my job. You could make the argument that tire carriers and jackmen are put in much worse spots.
On top of that, it isn’t like we’ve seen a recent outbreak of catch can guys getting hit on pit road. I can’t honestly remember the last time it even happened. So this couldn’t be called a reactionary change by NASCAR.
From a competition stand point, the rule with the fueler in the Truck Series is, that he cannot make any adjustments during the pit stop. I would imagine that NASCAR would carry this part of the rule over to Cup and the NNS. If you watch stops in the Cup and NNS Series, you will often see catch can guys making track bar and wedge adjustments. Teams build extra long adjustment wrenches specifically for this.
If the catch can guy goes away, pit stop times will be affected considerably. Any adjustments will now have to be made by tire carriers, which will slow stops down. It will certainly give crew chiefs fits, as the question becomes “do I lose time on the stop and get the adjustment, or leave the car as it is, and take the track position.”
We will keep you posted as we know more about this rule change.
As the summer continues to roll along, we have reached the 29th edition of Ask The Insiders Wednesday. These posts continue to gain in popularity every week, and I’ve been told by many of you that ATIW is what you look forward to the most. That’s great to hear, and if you keep sending in the questions, we will keep trying to answer them! If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send one to us. On to the questions…
1. From Scott from Canada:
On June 17th’s version of Ask the Insiders TC said that “there are no computer systems in today’s Cup, Nationwide, or Truck Series vehicles.” Well just how the heck do the TV stations get access to throttle/brake/RPM and speed data? Speed I could see coming from a GPS unit and the scoring/timing points but it wouldn’t be accurate to the foot as it appears to be. So? And do the teams have direct access to this information or do they get it from TV or NASCAR? And (#2) if they get the RPM data is it part of the fuel mileage calculations that causes them fits at various tracks. Sorry for the length but thanks for the answers!
I feel like I’ve been called out here. First, cars don’t have onboard computers, but some will have an onboard telemetry box and GPS unit that transmits back to the TV trucks. Information provided from these devices is what is used to create the telemetry you see on TV. A company called SportVision provides the equipment. But teams are not allowed access to this information, so as far as they are concerned, there are no onboard systems. Fuel mileage calculations are based on weather conditions and previous data gathered (engine performance, driver habits, etc.). - T.C.
2. From mangopants:
I’m new to the sport and have a very elementary question - is it “Pit Road” or “Pit Row”? I’ve seen it written both ways, and just can’t distinguish when the announcers say it.
The two are really interchangeable. In NASCAR, you will hear it more often referred to as pit road. By the way, welcome to the sport and thanks for stopping by TNI! - T.C.
3. From Measure:
How are the drivers reacting to Carlos Pardo’s death? Is there a serious investigation being done by NASCAR to make sure changes can be made to prevent that kind of crash in the future?
Honestly I haven’t heard a lot about it. I think everyone was pretty shocked by the accident, especially because this is a guy that a lot of people in the garage had interacted with. That being said it is not exactly the response if it were closer to home. Also remember this series is more comparable to a late model series than to the Sprint Cup Series and as such the safety equipment is much less advanced. While I’m sure there will be an investigation I don’t know if there will be any major changes as a result of this. - Journo
4. From August:
Sometimes, after practice or “happy hour,” you’ll hear a crew chief or driver state that they have a really aggressive setup in the car. What exactly does this mean? Are they setting up the car to the point where their options are limited on changing the handling of the car once the race begins? By the way, you guys have become a must-hit on the internet everyday since I stumbled upon this site a few months ago. Keep it up.
I would take that to mean they have the car set up to run as fast as possible, most likely over the short run. For example, qualifying setups are normally aggressive, i.e., nose taped up, tires pumped up, etc. The car will run fast over a very short run, but in race conditions would then fall off very quickly. Also, aggressive setups are usually uncomfortable for drivers. They will be fast, but they will require the driver to really hang it out. - T.C.
5. From Joel:
Why is pit road closed at times - especially right after a yellow flag? PS: Love you guys - keep up the great work!
Don’t quote me on this, but I believe pit road is closed right at the point of caution so no driver can gain an advantage by being able to duck down early and get their pit stop done before the other teams have a shot. If a car could pit before everyone else, they would then be out front when the remainder of the field pitted. Also, if a wreck or caution happens near the entrance, they will close pit road to allow the safety workers to do their job. - T.C.
6. From Jon:
I hate to ask about auto racing other than NASCAR… but I know you guys are fans of racing in general. I am an avid reader and have asked you guys a few questions, to which I was very thankful for your replies! I hope you answer this but if not I understand… have you heard of the radical news about the FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) pulling out of F1 for 2010? This is essentially every major F1 brand (Ferrari, Brawn, McLaren, Red Bull, etc) pulling out. It would be like Roush, Hendrick, Gibbs and RCR pulling out of NASCAR! It unfortunately also resembles the CART/IRL split that ruined American open wheel racing (AOWR) more or less. Do you guys really think that Max Mosley isn’t going to give in? It seems like if he doesn’t, he’ll basically lose the crown jewel of racing abroad. I realize NASCAR probably gets more TV viewers, but I think F1’s impact on the world of auto racing is even more far reaching than NASCAR. I love the technology and the skill it requires to run F1 and I hate the thought of it being compromised like the CART split compromised AOWR.
I actually think this split is a lot more comparable to the USAC-CART split in the late-70s. That being said my first instinct is that the teams are posturing to get their way. I know the heads of these organizations are pretty angry with the leadership of F1 and they are very serious about starting a breakaway series, but I truly believe they both know for better or worse they need each other. It sounds like Max Mosley is attempting to re-engage the teams, but what ultimately happens is hard to say. Should this split ultimately occur, I think it will be incredibly ugly. In the end, it would be a shame to have this globally loved series destroyed by bickering and infighting. - Journo
7. From Brian:
I saw this picture from the Nationwide race at Milwaukee: http://twitpic.com/7yhn0 How much PSI do teams typically start on their tires and how much PSI do the tires gain over a typical green-flag run?
Unfortunately I can’t really give you a hard and fast answer on this one. Initial pressures and what the tires build over a run is really going to depend on the track, the series, and the conditions. Usually at short tracks teams will start pressures (especially fronts) very low because the tires will build a lot more due to the added heat from brake use. I’ve seen tires with PSIs in the single digits before. And rights will be different front lefts, as will fronts vs. rears. Rights will usually build more because of the forces on them, and front vs. rear depends on the car’s setup. - T.C.
8. From Ric:
Do you guys practice and/or plan what you will do in situations of a damaged car coming in? Who grabs what, where to cut or not to cut, what has to be done in what order, etc. When working on a damaged car does the same group go over a wall to fix it, or would say the gas man stay back so an ignition specialist can check something out? Can different people go over the wall as long as the number stays at / below 7?
Yes, most teams will at least have a basic plan of who will do what when there is damage to be fixed over the wall. And yes, different guys can go over the wall as long as the number doesn’t exceed seven. Especially in the case of engines, you want your engine tuner over the wall in one of those situations because he is going to be able to best diagnose a problem. - T.C.
9. From Savannah:
Okay guys, since we are now about 10 races away from the Chase, it is time to ask your opinion on who will make the chase this year. So, who will be the lucky 12 drivers? Who do you think will be the surprise chase contender this year? Do you think that Dale Jr will be in the Chase? And if you’re feeling like taking a chance and looking into the crystal ball, who do you think will be the NASCAR Sprint Cup champion for 2009! Remember, this is just an opportunity for you to express your predictions. Now, my crystal ball is still slightly cloudy- hopefully, y’all will have better luck with yours! Thanks for answering all of the questions.
Actually if I had to pick a top-12 I really like the current standings. Obviously there is still a lot of room for movement, but given what we have seen this season, these are, in my opinion, the strongest 12. I don’t think Jr. will make the Chase this season. He has a lot of points to make up and unless he has a huge turn around quick, I don’t think this year is his. As far as who the Champion will be, I’m not ready to say quite yet, but I think Tony Stewart looks like a new man and those three Hendrick cars are very strong. Unfortunately my crystal ball is still very cloudy too. - Journo
10. From Steven:
How come some teams like Jay Robinson’s #49 and Dwayne Gaulding’ #21 start and park even though they have sponsorship? Are these teams offering companies (GetMoreVacations, Stock Car Steel, & Anderson’s Maple Syrup) space on the car for dirt cheap, or do they just give them a free ride?
You’re absolutely correct. They pay a few thousand dollars to have their names on the car for a few laps. The money isn’t enough to make it worthwhile for them to run the whole race. It’s just one more way for these start and park team owners to make money. - Journo
11. From Amy:
I was at the track in Sonoma and my two questions stem from my experience there: 1. We had prerace cold pit access and while walking up and down the pit boxes taking pictures I noticed of all things in the arsenal of stuff packed into one of the pitboxes a can of cooking spray (PAM to be exact). WHY? 2. I took time sitting in both the grandstands on Friday and turn 7 on Sunday and noticed that with the elevation changes and turns- it must be a challenge to be a spotter at a track like that. Where were the spotters located? And do teams ever use more than one spotter at a road course?
First, teams will sometimes use cooking spray (such as PAM) on the wheels to avoid brake dust. PAM can hold up to the heat, yet it won’t allow so much dust to collect on the wheels. Second, spotting road courses is definitely a challenge. At Sonoma, the spotters are located up towards turn two at the top of the hill. They can see the majority of the track from there. And teams will normally use more then one spotter at a track like this (especially Watkins Glen) because you don’t want to put your driver in a bad position because one guy can’t see the whole track. - T.C.
12. From Mike:
I have been given tickets to the Daytona 500 Club for 4th. Can you see the race from here? It looks nice online but do we sit at bar the whole race? They’ll have to roll me out.
You know I’m not overly familiar with the Daytona 500 Club, but after looking around it looks like you can see the front stretch, but not the rest of the track. I’m sure there are TVs in the building though. With an open bar though, can you really go wrong? - Journo
13. From Kim:
Hi guys! 1. Has any team in NASCAR switched manufacturers mid-season? 2. I was watching the set up in the cold pit at Sonoma (Bud team, of course!) and wondered what each of the four monitors on the pit box showed during the race, and also the two flat screens behind the box. Thanks.
Me and Journo were discussing this one, and in the modern era, I don’t remember a team switching midseason. I’m sure its happened in the past, but no specific situation stands out. Maybe a reader knows? For your second question, the monitors up top are used to display the race broadcast, the feed from timing and scoring, any engineering data for the crew chief and engineer to use in strategy, and whatever other miscellaneous computer programs teams use (like instant messengers). The flat screens down low are also used to show the race broadcast, timing and scoring, and the playback from the pit stop camera(s). - T.C.
14. From Ric:
I have noticed that after the Catch Can Man waves his arms that the tank is full, they keep putting fuel in the car, until it?s down on all four tires, sometimes actually moving forward. I would think with the left side of the car up in the air more fuel would be in the tank, hoses, etc then when on all four tires. I do not believe the idling engine is burning that much fuel, so what is the story?
Normally what you are seeing is the catch can and fuel man trying to “pack” the car. They are trying to make sure the fuel cell and the fill and overflow tubes have every drop of fuel in them possible. The catch can man will wave when fuel comes out the overflow, then he and the gas man can work a carefully choreographed dance between the gas can and catch can and burp the system, filling it to the gills. - T.C.
15. From Dianne:
How long do we have to tolerate ESPN/TNT coverage? I am already sick of having to try and find races on TV. Fox was Fox and ABC was ABC! Now I gotta hunt to watch a race let alone listen to those know-nothing broadcasters. Bring me D.W. and Larry Mac!!! at least they KNOW racing…
Well you’ll have to deal with it at least until the end of the season. Beyond that I believe TV contracts are up in 2014. To be frank what we have now is much better then the TV situation 10+ years ago. Prior to now each track operator held their own TV contracts. And at that point in time you had more than just two major track operators. Literally you had a race on a different channel every week. As far as your comment on Larry McReynolds goes, he’s on TNT too. - Journo
And that brings yet another “Ask The Insiders Wednesday” to a close. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. And remember, if you’d like to be a part of next week, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send your question in!