Often times when drivers get one off rides there becomes this serious sense of urgency. They have to do whatever it takes to get a good result now, because they may not get another chance. I believe what we saw today out of Boris Said could somewhat be explained this way. He came in as a ringer for James Finch’s #51, and after winning the Montreal NNS race last season from a similar position, maybe thought he could win again. Instead, he ended up driving over his head, made a lot of enemies, and finished a mediocre 22nd.
After being involved in the horrific crash with David Ragan and David Reutimann, and apparently a dust up earlier in the race, Said and Greg Biffle had a scuffle in the garage area post-race. Said later threatened Biffle in his post scuffle interview, and Biffle responded via Twitter. But Biffle wasn’t the only driver to take exception to Said’s racing. Regan Smith, Jeff Burton, and David Ragan all weighed in post-race against Said. And when guys like that are speaking out against you, something is clearly wrong.
No matter what side of the fence you are on, Said’s move on Ragan was dirty. Hitting a guy in the rear quarter panel like that is about as a low as it gets. With one lap to go, I really question the judgement of flat wrecking a guy so you can finish 22nd instead of 23rd.
I have to say though, Said deserves some props for his comments in the interview following the race. At least he was honest and isn’t afraid to stand up for himself (did anyone else notice the RCR #27 guys enjoying a front row seat to the skirmish?).
Going forward, don’t expect Said to get a lot of respect from his fellow competitors. He used to be a guy other drivers went to for road racing advice, but now he’s going to become the driver they root up 0ut of the way so they can finish 22nd instead of 23rd. What goes around, comes around, and guys like Biffle aren’t going to forget this any time soon.
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It’s back to the Irish Hills this week as NASCAR rolls into Michigan International Speedway and inches closer to the start of the Chase. But before we head to Brooklyn (Michigan that is), it’s time to answer your questions! 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 Michael:
“Fortunately for Pattie and Montoya, Chip Ganassi isn’t Jack Roush.” …..What do you mean?
Jack Roush has an affinity for not letting driver/crew chief relationships run their course (though Bob Osborne has made it longer, his second time around, than some of his peers). Jack’s not a patient man – he wants fast results, and if things aren’t happening within his time frame he tends to quickly make changes (ask Jimmy Fennig, Drew Blickensderfer, Todd Parrott etc.). My point was to say driver/crew chief relationships take time to develop – if Montoya and Pattie were at Roush there is a chance they wouldn’t have made it. – Journo
2. From Rob:
What is the proper etiquette in the garage w/ hot passes?? Thanks guys love the site..
The most important thing is to make sure you’re wearing the proper attire. Long pants, closed-toe shoes, and sleeves (short ones are fine) are a must. Beyond that, just make sure you’re always paying attention to what’s going on around you, and try to stay out of the way of those at work. Oh and have fun! – Journo
3. From Franq:
What would it take to make the Brickyard race into a road race using the excellent F1 course. I think this would put some life into an ever increasing boring race?
An act of Congress maybe? Seriously though I don’t think NASCAR has any interest in turning the Brickyard into a road course race. I don’t think it’s a bad idea; certainly the folks at IMS need to do something to bring life back to the race. I think though making it a road race would diminish NASCAR’s role at IMS – that is to say it would put them on different footing than the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. It would send the message that NASCAR can’t cut it on the big track, so they’re experimenting. Just my two cents. – Journo
4. From Sam:
I may be in the minority, but I really enjoy the road course races. I’ve noticed many oval tracks with two races also have road courses which use most of the oval but add some infield twisties. Has nascar ever considered using the oval for the spring race and the road course for the fall race, or vice versa. It would be an interesting way of introducing “new” tracks without really changing the schedule at all.
I’m with you, I love the road course races. They provide such a nice change of pace. Remember though NASCAR is primarily an oval racing series. Changing that changes the spirit of the sport. It would be interesting, but as you said there are a good number of people who don’t like seeing NASCAR go left and right. I think they would risk alienating a large segment of fans. – Journo
5. From Dwiltone:
I know that the teams use road race cars at Watkins Glen and Infineon. That aside. In my feeble mind I think that in some ways , setting up a car for a road course would be easier than for an oval track. One situation where lefty righty tighty loosey would equal out. Any insight on my theory? Keep up the good work on the Web site. I read it every week.
I’m not really sure you can say setting up for one is easier then the other. Both styles of tracks have their challenges that must be overcome. For NASCAR teams, road courses may have a slight edge just for the simple fact that we only race on them a few times a year. – T.C.
6. From Doug in CA:
As I watched the Busch race from the Glen today, I noted that some cars are listed as being “out” of the race, while others are merely “off.” Are teams supposed to notify NASCAR when they have decided to pack it in for the day? P.S. LOVE that road racing!
Yes, when a team decides to retire from a race, they have to let a NASCAR official know. The official will then let race control know the team is out of the race. When a team is listed as “off” they are just in the garage working on the car. – T.C.
7. From Garry:
Is it my imagination, or are pit stops backwards at The Glen? It looks like they are coming in and going out the wrong direction. If this is true, how does that affect the way you guys operate..(if i am imagining this..then never mind; )… And could you please explain what the heck was the deal with Kyle Bush having to fix something at the start? Why wouldn’t this be something they had taken care of already? I tell ya…. following along at home by picking a fantasy team each week really makes it more personal … DANG IT!!
Yes, the teams pit the cars backwards at Watkins Glen. I wrote a post all about it in 2008 (click here). Kyle Busch’s team had an issue with their right side weights before the race at the Glen. They were not secured as they should have been, and the weights were sliding back and forth in the tube. Incidents like this can get guys fired. – T.C.
8. From Mark:
How does the pit crew line up stud holes on wheel and stud so quickly? What is the I.D. of hole compared to O.D. of stud?
The tire carriers use a piece of tape as a reference point that allows them to know exactly where the stud holes are on the wheel. Check out this classic TNI blog post for more info. And to be honest, I’m not sure what exactly the difference is between the stud and the stud hole. It’s not much, whatever it is. – T.C.
9. From Steve:
If a driver goes into the pits during the pre-race pace laps (like Kyle Busch at the Glen), does he lose laps if he doesn’t come out before the pace car completes each lap? Or does he simply start at the back on the same lap as everybody else?
Pace laps are not official race laps, so a team would not lose any laps. They will however have to start at the rear of the field. Also, teams are not allowed to add fuel during pace laps. – T.C.
10. From Eddie:
Wasn’t Mark Martin supposed to retire after the 2005 season? Will he finally retire after 2011? I like Mark Martin, but what motivated him to come back to race full time after making retirement announcements like Brett Farve?
Hahaha, Brett Favre. Well that’s a new one. There was an announcement (from Mark) though. I think he just realized there was still a lot of fight left in him, and he wouldn’t be content sitting on his couch watching races. Will he retire after 2011? That’s something you’d have to ask him. I honestly don’t know. At least he’s not waffling like Favre. When he got back in, he got back in. – Journo
11. From Marcus:
When GE Reveal, Philps Norelco, Suave, and AXE Twist sponsor Jamie McMurray are thay really sponsoring him or is it Target “showcasing” their different brands they offer? Jayski put it as “Philips Norelco sponsoring McMurray at Michigan”. Ganassi also does this in Indy Cars with Franchitti. Being he is sponsored by Target, I am asking this. I know it’s kind of a weird question but I am just curious.
Not a weird question at all – in fact I’m impressed you even noticed. Those deals are facilitated through Target, but those sponsors pay EGR to be on the car. It’s like Target provides Ganassi a marketplace of sponsors. Beyond those one-race deals though Target does have a very successful affiliate program with EGR and CGR (that’s why you’ll see Kimberly-Clark or Unilever products on JPM’s quarter panels when they’re running Target colors). Companies pay Target to get better placement in store and in advertisements and they also get the perk of Target’s motorsports program. It’s a win-win for all involved. And from what I’ve heard, Target’s affiliate program more or less pays for the sponsorship. – Journo
12. From Billy:
What are your thoughts on Bill Jenkins and Latitude 43 Motorsports?
I’m guessing you are referring to the recent revelations that Bill Jenkins doesn’t seem to be paying his drivers. This is a very small team, with extremely limited resources that is just trying to make it to the next week. You can’t really fault their efforts, as at least they aren’t start and parking. But when money starts running out, the first people to suffer are the drivers and employees. This is a very common tale in racing. The list of drivers and crew guys that have been screwed out of money by a team owner would probably circle the earth. If Jenkins can’t afford to pay his drivers however, it’s probably easy to assume the end is near for the team. - T.C.
13. From Rowan:
How good is Marcos Ambrose rated as a serious Cup racer by other teams and fans and what is the likelyhood of him having a Cup drive for next season? I think his Cup drive at Watkins Glenn was awesome and probably his best performance I have seen. Thanks and regards…. an aussie Marcos fan
Marcos is certainly regarded as a legitimate driver in the Cup Series. He showed flashes last season that he could get it done on ovals, but he’s just been the victim of a lot of bad luck this season. I think it is very likely he will land with another Cup team for the 2011 season and beyond, with the most likely candidate being Richard Petty Motorsports. - T.C.
14. From Tom Skaggs:
I read this article a few years ago. The question I have is that it appears that Jamie McMurray is paying team expenses (payroll) out of his own pocket. I can understand paying agents, handlers et cetera, but is it common for drivers to be paying for team expenses? I’d assume that team owners would be paying these expenses.
I’m not sure what you read in this article that makes you think McMurray is paying team expenses. This article is referring to some savings that McMurray had frozen for a time due to a bank fraud investigation. Drivers don’t cover any team expenses with their earnings. Many drivers have their own companies and organizations to help manage their careers, and they are obviously responsible for those expenses, but not for the teams they drive for. – 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!
The Watkins Glen road course provided some great racing this weekend, but while the action on track was interesting, so were some of the rumors floating around the garage. We heard a few different bits this weekend that we wanted to share, and I figured I’d weigh in on them with some of my own thoughts.
First up, we reported on Twitter (follow us @nascarinsider) yesterday that we’d heard NASCAR took a box of lugnuts from Marcos Ambrose’s Nationwide Series team during the race. Word is that they were illegal in some way. Don’t be surprised if the team is penalized this week. I don’t expect NASCAR will take the win away however. Quick Update: Scenedaily.com’s Kenny Bruce reported via his Twitter page that NASCAR did indeed take lugnuts from the #47, but later decided there was no issue.
The most ridiculous rumor that we’ve heard on a few different occasions recently, is that Red Bull Racing is shutting down at the end of the season. I know the team’s performance has been abysmal this season, and question marks surround both of the team’s normal drivers, Brian Vickers and Scott Speed, but this is one I just don’t believe. There was even a report late this evening that Red Bull may be where Kasey Kahne ends up for the 2011 season. Some major changes are probably in order for this team internally, but don’t expect them to close down any time soon.
While Red Bull’s future is probably safe, we have heard that Kevin Conway’s days might be numbered at Front Row Motorsports. It sounds like the team has grown tired of Conway’s poor performance, and this group will struggle mightily to make races if the #34 falls out of the top 35 in owners points. They are currently 35th in the standings, only 182 points ahead of 36th. A few more bad finishes, and Conway will be on the outside looking in. To this point in the season, Conway has had a guaranteed starting position in every race, due to some fancy number wrangling by owner Bob Jenkins. With one team already outside the top 35 however, thanks to the tire debacle at Pocono earlier in the year, Jenkins can’t afford to have another team fall out. Word is that Extenze would continue sponsoring the team, but another yet-to-be-named driver would be brought in.
Richard Petty Motorsports officially announced on Friday that AJ Allmendinger had signed a multi-year agreement to remain the driver of the #43 Ford. With that settled, a number of other questions still plague this organization; namely sponsors and other drivers. With the rumblings that Paul Menard is taking his family sponsor to RCR, Kahne’s known departure for Hendrick, and Elliott Sadler’s apparent dissatisfaction, Allmendinger is short a few teammates for 2011. We are still hearing that Ambrose will probably end up in either the #9 or #19 next season, and a deal may be close between the two parties, pending sponsorship. Another name that has popped up as a potential replacement for RPM next season is Aric Almirola. Almirola has revived what appeared to be a fading career this season with a strong NCWTS campaign to this point that currently includes two wins. The young driver also impressed folks a few weeks ago with a third place finish at ORP driving for JR Motorsports #88 NNS team. If the team can find sponsorship, Almirola would be a decent addition.
Like I wrote on Friday, it’s certainly been a crazy Silly Season, and there are still plenty of dominoes left to fall. It will certainly be fun to see what plays out.
GRAND-AM Continental Tire Series driver Billy Johnson will make his Nationwide Series debut next weekend at Watkins Glen with Roush Fenway Racing. Johnson, who co-drives the #61 Roush Performance Mustang in the Continental Tire Challenge Series with Jack Roush Jr., will pilot the #6 Citi Financial Ford. The race will be the first NASCAR event for the 24 year old from Torrance, CA.
Johnson is currently fifth in the Continental Tire Challenge Series points on the strength of wins at Homestead and New Jersey Motorsports Park. He partnered with Roush Jr. part way through the 2009 season, and he has six career wins in GRAND-AM. He is also an instructor at the Skip Barber Driving School.
We’ve heard that leading up to his debut, Johnson has done some road course and oval track testing for RFR. No word on if he may run more races.
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The 2010 season is finally here! And with it comes a big batch of reader questions! 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 Ric:
How many different measurements are taken before and after a tire is used in (race, practice, time trials, etc)?
Well let’s see if I can remember them all. The tires’ circumference is measured to check stagger and pressure for both the tire and applicable inner liner is measured and measured again. Tire specialists also use a tread depth gauge to check tire wear and a pyrometer to check tire temps at various points on the tire. I think that’s everything. – T.C.
2. From David:
Hey TC, any idea how much more power a cup engine out front would make than say a car back in 8th place at say Watkins Glen? I know cooler air makes more power than warmer air. Just thinking about exhaust from cars up front, make any sense?
Well, they always say the cleaner air out front is best. I’m not sure what effect that has on engine performance though. They are usually referring to clean air on the nose for good downforce. You have to remember that exhaust dumps out the right side, down low; while the engine’s intake is at the base of the windshield in the cowl area. There may be a small difference, but it would be minimal at best. – T.C.
3. From Andrew:
What are you guys looking forward to most this season? A certain race, an event, a potential win, or something else?
I’m just looking forward to getting the season going period. I hate the down time during the offseason, and am always chomping at the bit to get going again come Daytona. I’m with a great team this year, and I’m excited for the opportunity to win some races. – T.C.
Like TC said, I’m just happy the season is back going. As is always the case, there are going to be great stories, and great races. I’m just ready for everything to start happening. – Journo
4. From Kenny:
Why is there significant variance between the primary car and the back-up they bring to different races? Aren’t both cars built to the same specs, with the parts and components coming from the same manufacturers and fabricators?
With the bigger teams anymore, there isn’t much difference between a primary and a backup car. Often times you will hear a driver say their backup actually felt better then a primary after a wreck. Sometimes though, for what appears to be no reason at all, some cars just run and feel better to a driver. And a driver who has confidence in his race car can be a very powerful thing. – T.C.
5. From Ross:
Did Danica Patrick have any on track practice in a Nationwide or Cup car before she started talking to teams about making the move?
I believe several years ago she went out and ran some laps in a car, but nothing substantial. Her first real chance to run a stock car was at that ARCA test last December. – Journo
6. From Scott:
While watching practice from Daytona I have noticed that cars are carrying alot less associate sponsor decals around the front fenders this year. I think most noticeable are the Hendrick cars. Is this a sign of a lack of companys sponsoring NASCAR or are teams just not opting into the sponsorship deals for other reasons? Thanks for your time and love your website!
I can’t say I noticed a difference. I went and looked at some pictures from over the weekend and it looked similar but I can’t say for certain. You might have noticed some of the teams that choose not to take advantage of the contingency program like Red Bull or Penske. Roger Penske for instance is a real stickler for how his cars look, so you don’t see too many. I wouldn’t read too much into this. And thank you! We’re glad you enjoy the site. – Journo
7. From Christopher:
I understand that if a driver changes an engine or car after qualifying, he must start at the end of the pack (43rd). But what happens if multiple drivers have to start at the end? How do they determine who starts 43rd, 42nd, 41st, etc.?
To be honest with you, I’m not sure on this one. I would imagine it’s one of two things: the highest in owners points gets the spot or the faster qualifier gets the spot. The rulebook doesn’t spell this one out specifically. – T.C.
8. From mangopants:
I’m so ready for racing! Hey – watching the Danica Show (the ARCA race today) I started to wonder… do drivers know when the in-car camera is on and showing what’s going on? Like a red light turns on or something? Followup – are drivers compensated for being the “in car reporter”? Do drivers find the radio/TV interviews *while racing is going on* a nuisance, or do they like it?
I don’t believe there is a red light, but I honestly can’t give you a definitive answer there. Generally the in-car camera’s are paid for by teams or sponsors for obvious exposure (that isn’t necessarily always the case). As far as the nuisance question goes, I would imagine it depends on the driver. Some guys are much more willing to talk than others. – Journo
9. From Keith:
Any word on what Jimmy Means is up to?
He has a car entered for the Daytona Nationwide Series race, with Donnie Neuenberger listed as the driver. You will most likely see more of the same from Means’ team. They’ll make as many starts and as many laps as the money will allow. – T.C.
10. From David:
Since Harvick did not practice the Shootout car, why was he allowed to start where Bowyer drew his spot and not start at the rear of the field?
David, you’re very correct that under normal circumstances a driver would have to practice the car in order to keep their starting position. There was some confusion about this over the weekend, but I can tell you, as far as I know, it was never really cleared up. I would imagine given the situation and the nature of the race, NASCAR didn’t feel it necessary to penalize this. It is NASCAR though. – Journo
11. From Michael:
A question about the Ford NW series cars – why don’t the Fusions have the new light / grill stickers like the COT does? I find it strange that the NW cars are an older look. Thanks.
I have seen at least one NNS paint scheme with the new headlight decals. I don’t know why they wouldn’t switch though, but it might be that the nose pieces are still molded for the old body style. – T.C.
12. From Kevin:
Hey guys, last week in the Shootout the Hendrick guys were never really players. How much of that do you think was them maybe trying some out of the box stuff or how were they seriously lacking horsepower/handling? Tony Stewart ran up front, and he is driving the same cars for the most part. Also, good to see some Childress/Earnhardt engines upfront, that combo has been terribly underwhelming in the past few years. Maybe they are on to something. One more thing: how good would Kasey Khane have to finish this year to consider re-upping with RPM (or whatever it is called now) and Ford considering all that has happened between them. It would sure be hard for him to leave a Chase team wouldnt it? Thanks, and looking forward to a new season with TNI.
Remember Daytona is perhaps not the best indicator of how a team will run for the remainder of the season. As long as you’re fast, good in the draft and lucky, you’ll probably finish pretty well. Remember last season Matt Kenseth won the first two races out of the box and then was off and on for the rest of the year. Likewise Kevin Harvick won the Shootout last year, and we all know how he and the other RCR cars did. We’re going to need a couple of months to assess how things have changed. On the Kasey Kahne front, I would say how he finishes isn’t as important as how comfortable he is with the situation. He ran well last year despite the chaos at the team; and as we heard in his late season comments, that wasn’t the problem. If he chooses to leave he’s going to have a lot of good opportunities available to him, and you would think he would have to consider those. My early feeling on the situation is that RPM is going to have a hard time hanging on to him. – Journo
13. From Loren:
Are the two pole sitters(Dale Jr./M Martin) required to run in the Duels or is it optional?
Yes, the rule says a car must compete in the Duels in order to race in the 500. – Journo
14. From Amy:
What exactly does the “shark fin” on the cars do? They mentioned during the Bud Shootout broadcast that it was considered safety equipment…but what does it do and why do the cars not have one on each side?
From my understanding, the shark fin makes the cars more stable when they turn sideways. Think of it as a spoiler, but for a car moving broadside. Besides the roof flaps, NASCAR and the teams are trying to find other ways to keep these cars on the ground when they get turned sideways and backwards at tracks like Daytona and Talladega. – T.C.
15. From Anonymous:
Can you bring me up to date on what is happening with the Ford FR9 engine. Will it run at Daytona? Does it have problems? Etc.
I know for sure that the Wood Brothers team will run the FR9 at every race they run this season. I also know that the Roush teams have not yet fully implemented the new design yet. I believe they used it at the Shootout, but will switch to the old Ford engine for the 500. I’m not aware of any specific problems, but keep in mind that developing a whole new engine from the ground up takes time. – T.C.