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There was an interesting piece today on NASCAR.com where Joe Menzer and Bill Kimm faced off about whether or not Chase teams should be allowed to make pit crew changes.  They referenced the changes that have happened to Kevin Harvick’s team the last two years, and the mid-race change for the #48 at Texas last season.  Kimm was against allowing changes, saying that no other sport allows changes to playoff rosters.  I disagree, and instead side with Menzer in the debate.  Teams should be allowed to make whatever changes they see fit, and at whatever time.  NASCAR is a performance based business, and teams must be able to make changes when they are needed.

If NASCAR instituted some sort of roster rule, I believe it would actually create more problems than it would solve.  First, when is the deadline for roster moves?  If its something where teams can’t make changes before the Chase starts, everyone will just make their changes before hand.  Second, what does a team do if they have an injury to a pit crew guy during the Chase?  They are going to have to fill that spot.  So if the roster rule has some sort of provision that allows for backups at each spot in case of injury, what’s to stop a team from reporting an injury or two just to make a change?  NASCAR teams are known for finding ways to circumvent the rules, and we’ve seen a recent memo from the NFL regarding faking injuries, so you’d know it would happen in our sport.

From a team standpoint, it’s important to understand that they are trying to do everything possible to give their Chase drivers a shot at the championship.  And at every multi-car team, there is going to be one pit crew that is better than the other(s).  So if they can slide guys around to strengthen a team, they are going to do it.  It certainly sucks if you are on the crew that gets replaced, but this isn’t little league racing.  There is a lot at stake and we are all grown men.  If you don’t like it, go find something else to do.

I also want to point out that I don’t think these moves give the affected drivers some sort of advantage.  It isn’t like these Chase teams are sacking other teams to put together some sort of super pit crew.  Everybody has contracts these days, and changes are just happening within organizations.  And as close as the competition is on pit road, there isn’t a huge difference in the skill and ability of the top pit crews.  Swapping the 33 guys to Harvick’s team might mean more consistency during stops, but he isn’t magically going to get 10 or 11 second stops.  That bunch is still the same group that has pitted Bowyer’s car all year.

I think fans need to remember that races can be lost on pit road, but they cannot be won there.  The crews can help put their drivers in the right position, but there is no finish line at the end of pit road.  What a solid, consistent pit crew does, is allow their driver to be the reason why a race is won or lost.  That’s really all we are asked to do.

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If there is one thing Red Bull Racing has shown over it’s short time in the sport, it’s that they have yet to create a decent strategy for properly developing racing talent.  AJ Allmendinger was bounced right as it appeared he was making strides, and the team is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Allmendinger’s replacement, Scott Speed, over his ouster from the team.  Journo wrote recently about RBR’s driver situation for 2012, and whether or not young Cole Whitt might be next in line for a Cup ride when Kasey Kahne departs.  But recent comments from Whitt show that Red Bull may not be doing everything necessary to give him the best chance to succeed.

On March 29th, NASCAR.com ran an interview Joe Menzer did with Whitt as he competes in his first full season of the Camping World Truck Series.  Menzer covered a few different topics with Whitt, but one of the questions and the subsequent answer has to be a bit disconcerting if you are a RBR fan:

Q: Have you been able to interact with some of the veteran drivers from Red Bull and elsewhere?

Whitt: Not too much, really. We’re all kind of off doing our own thing. I didn’t even get to talk to Kasey at Darlington, and our trucks were lined up starting right next to each other. I’ve pretty much been doing it by myself, I guess.

What?!  How is this even possible?

When a team has drivers like Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers on their roster, how are they not facilitating time for these guys to mentor a development driver?  You would think the insight and advice that these guys could offer would be huge for a young driver like Whitt.  And you have to think it would help Whitt’s confidence to know that if he ever had a question, he’s got two solid resources that will be available to him.

What’s worse, is if this is how they are approaching Whitt’s development, you’ve really got to wonder if they did everything they could for ‘Dinger and Speed.  Maybe if they would have done more with the drivers they had, they wouldn’t be in situations where they become desperate enough to take on lame duck drivers.  There is just too much at stake with these kids to not do everything possible to help them be the best they can be.

Hopefully it’s not too late for RBR’s management to rectify this situation, and get these guys involved with bringing Whitt around.  Because I know that if it was me that was in charge over there, I’d have this kid hanging around the drivers and teams as much as possible at the track and at the shop.  I’d tell him to pay attention, listen to everything, and not be afraid to ask questions.  Whitt appears to have a ton of talent and potential, and if Red Bull plays their cards right, he could be the face of their race team well into the future.

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