This week, we go from the high banks of Talladega to a Saturday night short track shootout in Richmond. The Nationwide cars will kick the racing weekend off on Friday night at RIR, while the Truck Series heads west to Kansas for a rare Sunday race. While we wait for the weekend to arrive, here’s a big batch of reader questions and our answers for you. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send one to us. On to the questions…
1. From Don:
How do the teams get cars to tracks in such short times? Does the transporter go back to Charlotte each week or is there more than one transporter and they alternate weeks? The transporter has to be completely restocked each week and some times Charlotte is not on the way.
Most Cup Series teams have two drivers per truck. This allows them to make it back to Charlotte in a timely manner after a race (for races close by this isn’t a problem). In the case of West Coast races organizations will often send extra trucks from Charlotte to run equipment to their teams out West because driving to Charlotte and back just isn’t feasible. Smaller teams will often just turnover the equipment they already have. – Journo
2. From ATS:
Every weekend when I watch the beginning of the race I see the #00 and David Reutimann come to the front and run in the top-5 or top-10. Only to have a failure of MWR equipment ruin his day. Do you think we could see David move teams at the end of 2010?
I don’t see David Reutimann going anywhere. I believe his contract is up this year or next, but I think he’s pretty happy where he’s at. Remember he and Waltrip go back a long ways. And anyway, where would he go? There aren’t too many seats available. – Journo
3. From Marcus:
What happens to Penske Racing’s #12 car now? Will Justin Allgaier drive it or what happens? Just let me know if you get any inside information.
It could be used for Hornish or it could go away. I haven’t heard anything specific, but I don’t think Allgaier will be in it next year (full-time at least). It’s possible he could run a few races, but they won’t be moving him full-time to the Cup Series in 2011. We’ll let you know if we hear anything. – Journo
4. From West Coast Kenny:
T.C. and Journo, It seems like Robbie Gordon causes a yellow during every race. Is it possible he does that just to get TV time for his sponsors?
I’m going to say probably not, but anything is possible. – Journo
5. From Woogeroo:
What is the deal with some races being impound races and some of them are not? It seems to me like Detroit’s love affair with half the autos fasteners being metric and the other in inches… with no rhyme or reason. I can understand Daytona with all it’s goings ons… but what’s the deal with the rest of them?
It is my understanding that only the Talladega races and the Daytona race in July are true impound races. I don’t know for certain what NASCAR’s reasons are for impounding cars at these tracks, but I would imagine it’s because there are so many extra little rules. Impounding the cars allows NASCAR to have more control over what the teams can and can’t do. – T.C.
6. From Cinde:
Kurt to drive the #22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge. Is Pennzoil that much better of a sponsor? Do they provide more sponsor money than Miller Lite? Or just pay the driver more? In your opinion why would Kurt go to Pennzoil? Or, perhaps did he really not have a choice at this time? Finally, do the CC and crew generally stay with the driver, or will that be a change as well? Thanks! Love your weekly writings!
It doesn’t have to do with Shell/Pennzoil being a better sponsor. And Miller is still with the organization. I’m not privy to their negotiations, but I would imagine Shell wanted Kurt Busch and Miller was OK with shifting their focus to Brad K. Wam, bam, Penske had a deal. In my experience drivers, for the most part, don’t really care who’s on the car, as long as they’re able to race. I’m sure Kurt Busch is just as happy hawking oil as he was beer. As far as switching crews, we haven’t heard anything about that and given the success the two teams are having in their current configurations, I don’t see Roger Penske making any major changes. – Journo
7. From Allen:
I’ve noticed during pit stops the lug nuts sometimes fall under the tires, has a lug nut ever been shot back and hit someone when the driver stomps on the throttle to leave?
It certainly has. The gas man and catch can man are usually the guys in the direct line of fire, but others have been hit. Trust me, it isn’t pleasant. – T.C.
8. From Doug:
You told us that you and Journo are Batman and Robin. Allow me to be just a little bit skeptical, if that’s OK. My question: do regulars in the press box and on pit row know who you are, are you both really in deep cover?
As far as we know our identities are unknown. If someone does know who we are, we haven’t heard about it. – Journo
9. From djones:
Regarding the recent penalties at MWR, are the drivers aware of suspect parts on the car, or other infractions? I’d like to believe they are innocent. Thanks.
I would say in most cases the driver probably doesn’t know. There is really no reason they need to know, plus keeping them in the dark gives the sport’s stars that oh-so-convenient “plausible deniability.” – T.C.
10. From Kim:
Sitting here in Talladega! If the race is an “impound” race and the cars would have been impounded after qualifying, what happens when qualifying is cancelled, as it was today? Are the cars deemed impounded at the moment qualifying is cancelled?
Actually, cars are impounded before qualifying, so the rainout doesn’t really matter. Teams were allowed to make any final adjustments to their cars on Friday evening, and then they were sealed until the race. The cars did go through an inspection on Sunday morning before the race, but teams were not allowed to do their usual race day work. - T.C.
11. From Amy:
While watching Talladega I am noticing that during the draft some of the cars have their hoodflaps popping open…I have never noticed that before- it that a product of the bump draft or the spoiler? Does it hurt anything?
It’s just a product of the aerodynamics and how the air travels over the cars. If I remember correctly, the flaps are coming up because they are in a low pressure area. And I don’t believe the car’s performance is hurt by it. – T.C.
12. From Michael:
A few years ago it seemed Jon Wood was on a path to a great future. Then, poof, he was gone. Any news?
Jon’s last start in any of the top NASCAR series was at the Phoenix truck race in November of 2008. He has not reappeared, I believe, because of his performance and because of his own personal issues (which I will not get into here). Wood made 17 truck starts in 2008, and only managed a best finish of 10th. Once the Wood Brothers team ran out of money to keep their truck program going, Jon was out of a ride. I would be surprised if he returned to competition down the road. It’s a shame too, because he could have been a very solid driver. – T.C.
13. From Kim:
Another question came up while sitting at Talladega: that hat hit the track close to where I was sitting. Why call a caution during practice for a bird, but not call a debris caution for a hat on the track? I’ve seen debris cautions called for a lot less!
Birds and other animals on track can (and have) actually cause significant damage to race cars. A hat on the other hand, especially like the one that ended up on the track at Talladega, is much less of a hazard. Didn’t the hat end up getting hit and destroyed anyway? – T.C.
14. From Dave:
I’m a little surprised you guys haven’t written about Roush’s situation in Nationwide since Colin Braun got ousted. I’m thinking as far as the 6 and 16 go, it looks pretty ugly. Does Roush go back to Erik Darnell at this point, Kenseth for the rest of the season, or does Roush stop running those cars when they’re unsponsored? Colin will run only, what, 10 more races? So I’m just assuming Stenhouse, who’s been equally as disappointing, won’t make it the full season anymore. Just seeing if you’ve heard anything… I don’t mean to sound happy about the situation, but I just don’t think the plan was ever a good one– two rookies in those cars full time. Thanks!
The situation at Roush has more to do with Jack’s frustration with Colin and the situations he puts himself in and the mistakes he continues to make than it does issues with young drivers or even unsponsored teams. Running these teams full time is exactly what Jack needed to do. He needs to see what these guys can do and see if they’re worth keeping (you can’t keep running part time schedules with young drivers and hope to accomplish anything). After three seasons with Colin, I think Jack has seen all he needs to see. With Ricky though, I don’t think he’ll get pulled unless there is some serious trouble down the road. Remember prior to this season Ricky had just one full ARCA season and a couple of Nationwide Series starts. – Journo
15. From David:
2 questions, what is the problem with racing someone hard(Jimmie Johnson – Jeff Gordon) also heard Hamlin complain. Do they think competition should move over for them because of who they are? Also how about a road course in the chase.
I don’t think actually racing each other close is the problem with some of these guys. What bothers them is when that close racing turns into contact and wrecks. Jeff Gordon has been mad the last few weeks because he’s been wrecked while racing hard with someone, not because of the actual racing itself. You have to remember too, some of these guys just need something to complain about. If it isn’t the wing, it’s Toyota has more power, or it’s people racing “too” hard, etc. etc. For your second question, I’m all for adding another road course race. In fact, I wrote a post about it last season. See it here. – T.C.
16. From Rick:
I heard ricky rudd is helping the #23 team in the Nationwide series is that true or is he helping anyone?
I haven’t heard anything about that, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Does anyone know anything about this? – 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!
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(Do you like the consonance?) From auto dealerships to Super Bowl XL, Roger Penske finds success in just about everything he does.
His Penske Automotive Group, with 253 dealerships, is the second largest auto dealer group in the world.
His Penske Truck Leasing manages more than 200,000 trucks around the world.
And Penske is a self-made billionaire. Forbes ranks him as the 773rd richest man in the world and 296th richest man in America.
In open wheel racing Penske’s teams have won 13 championships and gone to victory lane a total of 141 times, including 15 Indianapolis 500 wins. He is one of the most prolific owners in open wheel racing.
Despite his success in business and on that side of racing, in 27 years of fielding a car in NASCAR Penske hasn’t been able to push his teams across the threshold and become a championship winning owner (though he came very close in 1993 and has 62 race wins). That may soon change.
It was only a matter of time before the man affectionately known as ‘The Captain’ once again positioned his NASCAR team to be as consistently competitive as any other organization in the sport.
With the announcement last week that Shell/Pennzoil would join the team in 2011, Penske (the organization) showed their strength not just as a racing organization, but as a business entity. The team and the larger Penske Corporation is able to provide sponsors with so much more than just an on-track presence. With big sponsors in short supply, this type of thing is vital.
On track, the team has Kurt Busch (a championship winning veteran), Brad Keselowski (an eager rookie), Sam Hornish (a developing, championship winning race car driver), and strong prospects in Justin Allgaier, Parker Kilgerman and Dakoda Armstrong.
Armstrong, running full time in the ARCA Series, won his first race this past weekend. And Allgaier scored his first win at Bristol earlier this season and has shown marked improvement. To his credit, Parker Kilgerman was running well this past weekend before getting caught up in a wreck.
While there is still work to be done at Penske, they are well positioned for the future. They have veteran talent, great sponsors and the willingness to nurture the Penske stars of tomorrow. Those are all factors that could one day soon combine to give Roger Penske that elusive NASCAR championship.
If a certain home improvement store sponsored Chevrolet hadn’t spoiled the show at Bristol, we might have seen a Penske clean sweep of the weekend. But even without the win on Sunday, Bristol showed that the Penske cars have come to play in 2010.
On Saturday at Thunder Valley, Penske’s newly expanded Nationwide Series program stole the show. Sophomore driver Justin Allgaier picked up his first ever NNS win, while teammate Brad Keselowski took the pole, led 72 laps, and finished second. Keselowski looked to be the one to beat, but Allgaier got by him on a late restart and never looked back. Following the race, Keselowski and Allgaier sit second and third in the NNS points, and both trail point leader Carl Edwards by less then 40 points.
After winning the last race at Atlanta, Kurt Busch dominated on Sunday at Bristol, leading 278 laps. A third place finish behind winner Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart was disappointing for the veteran driver, but it appears as though the transition period for Busch and new crew chief Steve Addington is all but over. The blue deuce currently sits sixth in the standings, and this team will certainly be a factor this season.
Besides his strong Nationwide Series runs this season, Keselowski has certainly elevated the performance of the #12 cup car at Penske. Brad K. finished 13th at Bristol after leading a few laps, and was poised for a top five run at Atlanta before the infamous “flip” took him out of the race. The team sits 30th in the standings, but has run better then the results show.
Roger Penske, Tim Cindric, and the management at Penske Racing have made some great moves lately to build a solid foundation with drivers like Keselowski and Allgaier along with Busch and Sam Hornish (if he ever figures stock car racing out). And adding veteran leadership in the likes of guys like Steve Addington, Jay Guy, Chad Walter, and Paul Wolfe have really helped the performance of all the Penske teams.
As the only company-backed team left for Dodge in NASCAR, Penske has done a great job so far this season of carrying the banner. The future certainly looks bright for this bunch, and a pair of championship trophies to add to Mr. Penske’s trophy case is a definite possibility in 2010.
Filed under: Nationwide Series
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Now that Danica is taking a NASCAR hiatus for a few months, can we please get back to talking about the actual competition in the Nationwide Series?
Three races into the season, the top ten in NNS points could be mistaken for the top ten in the Cup Series. Seven of the top ten are Cup drivers, with only Justin Allgaier, Steve Wallace, and Scott Riggs representing the NNS only crowd.
Of the three, Allgaier looks to be strongest challenger to unseat a likely Cup-driving champion. In three starts this season, he has one top five and three top ten finishes. At Las Vegas, Allgaier looked to be a contender for the win before fading late and finishing seventh. He certainly has the backing and the team to get it done, and the knowledge and experience from a solid rookie campaign could push him over the top.
There are also several intriguing new-comers to the series who could surprise and break through for wins. James Buescher, Trevor Bayne, Brian Scott, Colin Braun, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. all could have a say before the season is over. They all have the necessary talent and are all driving in equipment that has won in the recent past. Three races in, Buescher, Bayne, and Scott are all inside the top 20 in points, while Braun and Stenhouse have struggled and will have to dig themselves out of a hole.
Of the three Nationwide only drivers in the top ten, I think the most interesting story is that of Scott Riggs. He was tabbed to pilot the #09 Ford for RAB Racing only a few short weeks before Daytona. Riggs filled the seat that was vacated when John Wes Townley left the team and took his family sponsor to Richard Childress Racing. The RAB team is running without a major sponsor, yet has still found a way to be competitive against fully funded, Cup backed teams. With a little help, this team could be a factor.
It seems unlikely that, with so many Cup drivers in every race, a young driver like Allgaier will be celebrating at Homestead. Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, and Paul Menard are all planning on running the full slate of Nationwide Series races. But like they say, that’s why we run the races.
Filed under: Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Nationwide Series
All three series have one more trip out West for the year. While the haulers make the long trek to Phoenix, we’ve got another question and answer post for you. 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 Savannah:
Hey Guys, does the COT become airborne in accidents more than the old style car? In several wrecks, the cars seem to be flipping more than the older car. Does the wing on the back of the car cause it to loose the downforce and then the flipping starts? I am just curious. I apologize if you have already responded to this type of question in the past.
I’ll be honest with you, I can’t really give you a great explanation of this. Diandra over at Stock Car Science though does have a good explanation of why this is occurring with seemingly more frequency. By the way Stock Car Science is a great blog; the woman who writes it, wrote The Physics of NASCAR. – Journo
2. From Doug in CA:
I was reading about tire testing at Daytona. How much tire testing goes on? Do Cup drivers participate in most? Very little? It seems to me that there are plenty of drivers out there who don’t have rides (Blaney, Riggs, Raines etc.) who would appreciate picking up a few bucks for running laps for Goodyear. Why do busy guys like Johnson or Busch do this job?
It happens a few times a year. Goodyear will pick certain tracks they need to work on, and go from there. Tire testing happens for the Cup cars the most, but it does happen for the other series too. The thing to remember about driver participation, is that Goodyear doesn’t supply the cars. Teams show up with all of their own equipment, So out of work guys wouldn’t really do Goodyear any good. Guys like Jimmie and Kyle will do it because it allows them to learn, and to help their teams learn. Especially now with the testing ban, any extra track time is a huge positive for a team and driver. – T.C.
3. From Blair:
Sitting here watching the race and though I’m a little tickled at the fact that Jimmie Johnson is stuck in the garage it has made me wonder. As far as the car goes, what all can be changed during the race as far as engine pieces and all that? Obviously you can’t change the original chassis but what all can you change? Or maybe the easier list would be what can’t you change? Thanks guys! Love reading your blogs!
Outside of replacing the car (chassis) and engine, everything is pretty much fair game. Rear ends, suspension, body, really anything else is okay to work on. – T.C.
4. From Scott:
Hey Guys, following Jimmy Johnson’s big wreck on Sunday his crew really pulled together and did great work to get his car back out there. Clearly this shows part of the reason that he is in position to win another championship and highlights the team aspect of NASCAR, which I don’t think gets enough coverage. However, with all the parts being changed I was wondering about a couple of things. I heard during the race that you can change just about everything except the motor and NASCAR lets you back on the track for your attempt to get back up to speed. What I’m wondering is this, what allowances does NASCAR provide for how the car measures up in post race testing? While its doubtful that after that type of crash a car would havea competitive downforce advantage is this something NASCAR checks? As always, great website, great columns and commentaries, love Ask Wednesdays, keep up the great work!
Post race inspection usually only happens to the top five (I think) and a random. So unless NASCAR decided to be ridiculous, a team in a situation like Jimmie’s won’t have to go through tech after the race. There is no point in checking a team for cheating when they were a few seconds off the pace, 120 laps down. – T.C.
5. From windowlicker:
Hey guys. During the Busch race at Texas, a car (I think it was Justin Allgaier) came out after a wreck with no front end. NASCAR black flagged him for not maintaining minimum speed. He went back in they did something & he came back out & finished the race. I thought once you got black flagged for not maintaining speed, NASCAR parked you. You didn’t get a second chance.
I think that was his one chance. The car comes out of the garage, NASCAR sees it doesn’t make minimum speed, then you are allowed one chance to make it right. That is how I always understood it. When a car is wrecked and comes out of the garage, the team doesn’t really know what it has to work with. If the rule is as I understand it, NASCAR gives the driver and team one chance to feel it out and make the car better. – T.C.
6. From J and D:
After seeing some of the recent wrecks in NASCAR races, we got to wondering: when a car is torn up badly but still able to finish a race, how on Earth do they pass post-race inspection? We’ve seen some cars with no front ends, jacked-up rears and much more. What’s left to measure?
Like I said above, unless a wrecked car finishes top five, they won’t be inspected after the race. Once a car is wrecked and goes many laps down, there really is no point in inspecting them. – T.C.
7. From Red Kneck:
Why does Marcos Ambrose’s 47 car have yellow rookie stripes but is not listed in the Rookie of the Year Standings?
It’s because he ran too many races last season to run for the Rookie of the Year Award (11 in 2008), but he is still considered a rookie (hence the rookie stripe). – Journo
8. From Michael:
I know racing in general money is money no matter the funding entity. However, do guys like Conway, Nemechek (Extenze) & Martin (when he was sponsored by Viagra) face much ribbing in the garage area?
Yes, absolutely. I would say the crew guys are the ones that face the majority of the ribbing though. Can you imagine walking around the garage with Extenze or Viagra on your chest? I’m just glad it’s not me. – Journo
9. From Christopher:
During the Texas Sprint Cup race, we all saw the shots from the hour or so the 48 team was re-building Johnson’s car. It seemed that Jimmy stayed in the car the entire time. Is this normal? Is there any reason- knowing it was going to take awhile- that Jimmy wouldn’t have gotten out? Maybe to help- or at least take a stretch?
In this situation I think Jimmie was trying to make a point that he was committed to going back out. Likewise he was still very much in that zone, so I think he wanted to avoid distractions like the media. Generally, I would say whether or not a driver stays in the car depends on the driver and the situation. -Journo
We’ve still got a ways to go before the Sprint Cup season has ended and we crown our champion, but never fear if you’re looking for a good conclusion to a motorsports season we’ve got three this weekend.
The ARCA Re/Max, IndyCar, and Grand-Am seasons all come to an end this weekend; and all three are locked into tight battles between the top two or three teams. If you’ve been watching any of them this season you know what I’m talking about.
IndyCar Series
Wrapping up at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend, the IndyCar Series has been one to watch this season.
True the battle is between just two teams and three drivers, but it’s still been exciting.
The Target Chip Ganassi teams of Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti sit one, two in the points and have been that way for most of the season. In fact the two swapped points every week there for several weeks. They have a combined nine wins this season (Dixon leads with five) and are only five points apart, with Dixon in the lead.
Despite Dixon’s lead Franchitti has the better average finish of 4.9.
The only driver who has been able to keep up with those two is Ryan Briscoe over at TCGR rival Penske Racing. Briscoe has four poles and three wins on the season with an average finish of 5.6. He’s only eight points out of the lead.
Long story short it’s all going to come down to who finishes ahead of who. Considering the dominance of all three of these teams it is sure to be an exciting finish to the season. Check it out Saturday at 4 p.m. on Versus.
Grand-Am
Also closing out their season at Homestead-Miami this weekend is the Grand-Am Series. There’s not much of a points race going on in the Grand Touring Series, but the Daytona Prototype Series is a squeaker.
Reigning champs Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas are just 10 points back from leaders Jon Fogerty and Alex Gurney in third. Eight points back in second are Brian Friselle and Max Angelelli.
The CGR team of Pruett and Rojas has been solid this season leading a total of 406 laps, but they only have two wins to the Gainsco team’s four. The Suntrust Team of Angelelli and Friselle have a similar record to Ganassi and also have two wins.
Given that these three teams finished 1-2-3 in order the last time they raced, and all of these drivers are very competitive with each other, Homestead is sure to thrill. Check it out Saturday at 1 p.m. on Speed.
ARCA
Finally if you’re not into sports car or open wheel racing the ARCA Re/Max Series season also comes to a close this weekend at Rockingham Speedway.
Penske development driver Parker Kligerman and Eddie Sharp Racing’s Justin Lofton have been battling all season for the championship trophy.
Kligerman has eight wins, including a string of four in a row between Michigan and Kentucky earlier this year and last week at Kansas. He has an average finish of 5.2 this season and sits just 15 points behind Lofton.
Lofton has six wins this season, most recently at Salem Speedway. He was looking to make it seven last week, but Kligerman, who was in second snookered him on the restart. He has an average finish of 5.3 and has led an astounding 1,005 laps.
There are no guarantees we’re going to see a repeat of last season (Ricky Stenhouse wrecks, either on purpose or accidentally depending on your view, Scott Speed; Speed then wrecks Stenhouse; Justin Allgaier wins the championship), but this is another one that looks to be a great battle. These are two very talented, intense young drivers and it will be exciting to see what happens. Check this one out (not live) at 10 p.m. Sunday on Speed.
I hope you enjoy your weekend of racing. Oh and don’t forget there’s a Cup and Nationwide race this weekend too.