From David Pearson and Darrell Waltrip to Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Darlington is still Darlington.

There’s a reason why Darlington is known as the track “too tough to tame” and the “Lady in Black”, because Darlington is one of the toughest tracks on the NASCAR schedule for both the Nationwide Series and the Cup Series.

Going into this past weekend’s only Cup Series Darlington race on the schedule this year, there was so much happen, both on and off the track, first from seeing the 8-time Darlington winner David Pearson in his #21 Wood Brother’s Mercury leading Edwards in his #99 Roush-Fenway Ford on a couple of pace laps around Darlington on the new surface, that is a perfect sight considering I had never gotten the chance to see David Pearson race during his historic career (keep in mind I am only 28 years old), to second seeing Darrell Waltrip’s #11 Mountain Dew Chevy sitting side-by-side with Dale Earnhardt Jr’s new #88 Mountain Dew Chevrolet Impala SS and you know DW is right in away, with the exception the frontend’s and no rear wind, DW’s #11 Chevy is very similar to Dale Jr’s new car today and in some cases, they most likely drive the same too.

What got to me even more in some aspect was the speculation that with the new pavement on the track, the racing and the legend of the racetrack was going to change, Darlington wouldn’t live up to its name and there wouldn’t be good racing, not to mention that the Nationwide Series race the previous night turned out to be a wreckers just to get to the checkers…

However while the Nationwide Series was what it was, the same couldn’t be said for the Cup Series race and even despite the fact that the Toyota’s, Dodge’s and Ford’s were all looking like they were driving sideways down the straightaway’s considering they were (trick in the rear end I guess), the combination of the new surface, the yet again sold out crowd and the new COT produced in my opinion one hell of a good race and I can safety say that Darlington at least in my eye’s is safe on the schedule.

Passing was and will always be at premium at this track and nothing changed there, but the higher speeds and the tougher car made it really interesting to watch, during the race, time and time again, the Darlington strip count which was very generous was climbing even on the lap 1 and throughout the night, I saw several drivers including Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, oh damn the list is shorter of who didn’t hit the wall with their right side a ton, bounce off and keep going… and yes the biggest surprise to me was just how hard (NASCAR’s version of wreck anyone to win) Kyle Busch bounced off the wall and kept going, I thought he was done a couple of times, but amazingly enough, his JGR Toyota kept going and going on to victory.

But in my eyes, there were three things to keep in mind when you ponder this race, first Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues his top 5, top 10 finish runs with another fourth place finish and he’s 3rd in points, staying with that, Jeff Gordon finished 3rd, a good finish for him. Second, I felt bad for Greg Biffle, he had a good car last Saturday night and as a matter of fact, for the last couple of seasons and he should have more victories, but he has no luck, at Darlington, he suffered a transmission issue, that’s just the tip of it. Third, Carl Edwards, he’s coming for the championship and for that matter, so is Dale Jr., watch these two.

To me, I know that NASCAR is in the business of making money, yeah I get that, but to me it’s history too, keeping your history and just like Martinsville, Bristol, and Richmond, Darlington is part of NASCAR’s history and that’s huge to fans including me, we need to keep these racetracks on the NASCAR Cup Series Schedule and not let them fall like Rockingham “The Rock” and North Wilkesboro, two great tracks, with that said, while it’s nice under the lights on Mother’s Day weekend at Darlington, I will ask this question, Is it time for the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend at Darlington to return?

One word YES, that’s all I am going to say and while I know that that would be tough to do, I would still love to see that happen.

By the way: I didn’t get the chance to say thank you to Andy Hillenburg for not only buying Rockingham Speedway “The Rock”, but bring back racing to the Rock, starting with the ARCA Series for the Inaugural Carolina 500 and even though the race turned out to be dominated and won by Joey Logano (who if Tony Stewart leaves JGR for a Chevrolet team, will be the new driver of the #20 in 2010), it was still great to see a race start just after noon time and with 50 cars, Good Job and NASCAR should look too.



David Pearson drives the famous No. 21 Wood Brothers Mercury ahead of Carl Edwards in his No. 99 Office Depot Ford during Darlington Raceway's media day in advance of the Dodge Challenger 500 (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images via NASCARmedia.com)

- Racedriven

Emotions, Emotions, Emotions – Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin as Clint Bowyer wins the 400 at Richmond.

(Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

So here’s the question of the day (the next day)…What do you consider as a good race and would you consider the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond last night a good race?

Racing under the light’s in Richmond is always exciting, a ¾ mile racetrack, a sellout crowd, 43 good drivers and 400 laps makes for an interesting night and race fans, that’s exactly what we got in Richmond regardless of what your personal feelings are after a late race battle turns to a wreck.

Like the title says, emotions, emotions, emotions, now let me state the obvious from the start, I am a huge Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan and I’ve been an Earnhardt fan for years now and for anyone who reads my blog regularly, you most likely already know this. As I sit here following the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond blogging on this short track event, I sit with emotions as to what to say about the entire thing.

While a good race to me would consist of multi-lead changes, that is not the only requirement, the others would include side-by-side racing throughout the entire field (oh I love a good short track action with beating and banging), passing which is a big key to any racing, pit strategy, action on and off the track, drama, excitement in the air, you get the picture as well as something that doesn’t look like a parade, now would Richmond qualify, oh yeah, despite the fact that Denny Hamlin lead 381 of 400 laps of the race (track record I never want to see again), this was one of the best races all season long, not as high up as Phoenix does or Bristol, but it’s up there.

Shocking enough, there was “The Big One”, one minute we are racing in Richmond and the next we are racing back in Talladega, how that happen and so fast, it was just a huge chain reaction that took out 10 cars, yeah and it was avoidable too… you can’t go three wide at Richmond, at least not for very long, boy this new car enables these drivers to really get it on at short tracks, now I just wish they could fix the intermediate tracks, we would have a real good, yet ugly car, but a real good car.

I had a feeling drivers were saving up there equipment for the end of this one, but boy I feel bad for Denny Hamlin, he wanted it so badly and yet welcome to Cup Series racing, don’t anyone give that line to me in a minute...

Now, just like so many times this year, like Phoenix, the final pit stops and final 50 miles of the race always seems to where business picks up – with Hamlin following back due to a slow air leak and a three wide pass, if you wert interested before, you are now…

With 15 laps to go, my heart was pumping a mile a minute with Dale Jr. leading, Jr. Nation on there feet and yet to go from seeing your favorite driver leading the race one minute and the next minute or several laps later, get wrecked by another driver (cough…Kyle Busch) is very tough to watch, I understand it is racing and while I should be angry, surprisingly enough I am very silent (someone hand me some headphone and a music player with Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift to calm me down, believe me it works), why, I really don’t know, at this point I am thinking about what Dale Jr. must be thinking as I watched his interview, what a drive not only in this race, but this entire season for Junior and yet, I am already off thinking about next weekend’s race in Darlington, plus believe it or not Denny Hamlin as well.

Denny wanted that victory so bad and for either of them not to win, that hurts. I can’t even imagine what other Dale Jr. fans were thinking and are thinking now, well maybe one, my father is already sleeping, that can’t be easy neither. As for Kyle Busch, well, good luck with… like I said emotions and for all that read this saying why are you not mad, who said I wasn’t, I just handle it my own way, sort of like you if I had a child in front of you (I don’t, no kids) or breathing… Well, congratulations to Clint Bowyer, he had a top 5, top 10 racecar, all night long and just like so many races in general, right place, right time wins races too.

I remember seeing Clint Bowyers first Cup Series victory at New Hampshire last season, I was there in his teammates Kevin Harvick’s pit (my first race too, thanks to Shell), good win for him and RCR and yeah a Chevy wins. Photo on the right taken by me.

So to answer the question, was this a good race, yes, so was Phoenix, Bristol, The Daytona 500 and even Las Vegas, for Martinsville, it was the weather – mist and cold, nothing against NASCAR, the drivers & teams, nor the track, so leave those two dates alone. Well (remembering I am a Boston Red Sox fan as well as New England Patriots fan, you can figure out the connect if there is one…), it’s off to Darlington, a Mountain Dew retro-look for Dale Junior that growing on me and another night race, and oh yeah, the ARCA race at “The Rock” later today, yeah, I'm Brian Vermette, See Yeah next time. Comments.

- Racedriven

What do you think about restrictor plate racing at Talladega and Daytona in NASCAR?

Let me state the obvious, I am not a restrictor plate racing fan and while I don’t hate it, I don't like it too much neither. The good news is that it is only run four times a year, I would describe it as a giant chess match and with the giant chess match, there is always the fear of "The Big One" that is caused half the time by aggressive driving or just that one stupid move. I do enjoy watching both the Daytona 500 and the Pepsi 400, you have to have a handling racecar to win Daytona and there is more control there. So far in 2008, I would rate the Daytona 500 in the top 3 best races of the season, along with Phoenix and Bristol.

However as for Talladega, that's a completely different story, at times it’s hard to watch a race at Talladega whether it’s the Nationwide Series or Cup Series. There’s really no control and if you have red my blog before, the headline most likely says "Demotion Derby at Talladega.... for NASCAR", its survival, period. That’s it, that’s not like watching a race at Richmond, Bristol Martinsville or Atlanta, but it is the art of restrictor plate racing.



Caption: Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500 I have to admit with the COT was one exciting race, however with that excitement the also received "The Big One" twice, the first time is pictured above with a simple case of four-five wide in the corners and no where to go and the second wreck happened on the last lap that had the race end under caution with another victory for Kyle Busch. Like I said, I did enjoy this race, it's a start and it wasn't boring. (Photo Credit: Motorsport.com)

- Racedriven

Did NASCAR just hand #44 Peyton Sellers and Andy Santerre Motorsports the stiffest penalty in NASCAR’s modern era?

Earlier today, NASCAR stripped #44 Peyton Sellers of his victory from last weekend’s NASCAR Camping World East Series race at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, dropping him to 30th place in the official race finishing order, suspended the crew chief for the next three races and putting the crew chief on probation until the end of the year for:

Sellers’ car was determined to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20C-12.3 C(7) (Shock absorber base valves will not be permitted: Right rear shock absorber had a base valve installed) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book. As a result, the original runner-up Austin Dillon, has been declared the race winner. (Credit: NASCARmedia.com Press Release)

This penalty doesn’t even begin to compare to any of the other penalties that NASCAR has handed down in any of their series whether it’s in the NASCAR touring series or in their top three series (Truck Series, Nationwide Series and Cup Series) as a matter of fact, I can’t remember the last time NASCAR had stripped a driver of their victory before in the modern era, at least not in their top three series.

When you consider the other penalties that NASCAR has handed down this year alone to mainly it’s NASCAR Cup Series drivers and teams, there’s only been one penalty which happens to be one of the stiffest in the last several years this season after the Las Vegas Cup Series race when NASCAR found the oil lid cover off of the #99 Carl Edwards Roush-Fenway Racing Ford during post-race inspection where he got docked 100 driver points, 100 owner points, the crew chief was fined $100k, suspended for 6 races and probation, plus the twist, if the #99 makes the chase, they will not get the 10 bonus points for winning Las Vegas…

So when you compare Carl Edwards penalty to #44 Peyton Sellers Andy Santerre Motorsports penalty of stripping Sellers of his victory in turn putting him in 30th position with 30th points (-107 points difference) and money ($3k instead of over $8800), plus suspending his crew chief for three races and putting him on probation, basically I found Sellers penalty worse than Edwards penalty hands down, why???

While Edwards was docked points and lost his crew chief for six races and also lost the 10 bonus points in the chase, to me, that still doesn’t even compare to Sellers penalty because despite everything handed to Edwards, he still kept the victory and victories are huge to any driver, plus Sellers was docked 107 points and fined several thousand dollars and that is huge to an Touring Series team.

If you blow the penalty up to the NASCAR Cup Series level using Edwards, Johnson, Newman for example, he would have been docked 159 points and fined at least $100k+, plus stripped of his victory, yeah like I said, stiffest penalty in NASCAR’s Modern Era.

Just one question, what does a shock absorber base value do on a racecar and what advantages does it give a racecar against others who don’t have it?

And I will leave it at that… Comments.

- Racedriven

From the Boston Red Sox at Fenway to NASCAR in Phoenix – what happened last Saturday Night on FOX?

Now let me state the obvious, as you may have noticed, I am a huge NASCAR fan and I blog about it regularly, the word diehard can be used to describe me and when there is a NASCAR (Cup Series mainly) race on, chances are I am either watching it live or at least recording it on my DVR, however what you may not know about me is that I live up here in New England, to be more specific, Massachusetts and I am also a sports fan who enjoys not only watching Football and my favorite team the New England Patriots, but baseball as well and my favorite team just so happens to be the Boston Red Sox which my friend and family got me into watching since I was in high school and granted I don’t watch every game nor do I know the roster or stats by heart, but nonetheless I am a sports fan who enjoys it.

Now I was excited when these two sports came together a couple years ago, first with Dale Jr. running the MLB paint schemes and then with Roush and the Fenway Group joining forces, it was cool see.

With that said, I never would have imagined that the two would come together in such a way as it did last Saturday Night. Basically, the Boston Red Sox vs. there huge rivals the New York Yankees game which is also good to watch went into a rain delay for a couple of hours, the game was televised on FOX and once the game was ready to resume, it was already into the pre-race coverage for the NASCAR Race in Phoenix. At this point, I didn’t care if FOX televised the preshow or not, it was the timing that would become the issue, more importantly when FOX made the switch.

I mean, there it is with the game being televised on both FOX and FX and while NASCAR fans were waiting for the NASCAR coverage, the baseball fans were watching the Red Sox lead the Yankees by 4-3 in the top of the 9th inning with one out at Fenway, the pitch was thrown and… damn the pictures gone and all of the viewers and fans find themselves in Phoenix looking at Ryan Newman let the pack of 42 other drivers coming at you into turn 3, so what happened, did the Sox win… I turned over to the Red Sox game on FX just in time to see the manager and players celebrating the victory over the Yankees.

So what’s the big deal, it’s the way FOX switched from the baseball game to the NASCAR race in Phoenix and keep in mind that NASCAR had pushed back the race 15 minutes to around 8:53pm to help FOX, in the end, the baseball fans didn’t get to see the last two pitches thrown and the Red sox win, nor did the NASCAR fans see the green flag being waved at Phoenix for the Subway 500. So no one got what they want to see, so now the question is, what’s with the last second switch?

At this point, I will say that I have to give it to FOX for at least trying to show the entire game and show the entire race, however there is two better ways to make the switch, first since FOX has to show the entire race, tell the baseball fans that due to the 2hr+ delay, the game has been moved to FX and now we join the Cup Series race in Phoenix 2 minutes before the start or second, if all else fails, show it in a split screen or side-by-side view of the last pitches and the start of the race.

Bottom Line, there’s not really to much to say here, no fans likes to be shut out like that, this shouldn’t have happened this way with a last second switch from the baseball game to the NASCAR, however while I give credit to FOX for trying to get the entire game in and the start of the race in at the same time, one group of fans were going to get hurt and yes I wanted to see if the Red Sox was going to win, nonetheless, the switch some have been made a minute or two before the green flag and that’s it.

So now that the Red Sox game was over and the Red Sox had beating the Yankees 4-3, the Cup Series race in Phoenix was on and what an exciting race it was, it was worth the wait, I don’t know about the races at the 1.5 mile tracks right now, but the Phoenix race was great, lots of passing, side-by-side racing and no lack of contenders going for the victory. At times during the race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was leading with his past in the rear view mirror to say the least with the #8 Mark Martin stocking him every which way. I had mixed feelings about this if the #8 won, on one hand any times Mark Martin wins is huge, however it’s the #8 DEI winning and this Junior fan still hasn’t forgotten, would I have been cool with it, yeah I would have, past is the past.

But you know, in the late stages of the race, Jimmie Johnson was coming in a hurry, he was one if not the fastest car on track and then the splash for gas for most of the field. Normally a fuel mileage race wouldn’t be interesting, however this was at Phoenix and you could hear Chad Knaus on the radio saying back it way down, give me two seconds a lap, give three seconds a lap, back it way down and in turn three and four, just put it in neutral and coast and what a victory it was for Jimmie Johnson and the #48 Hendrick Motorsports team.

It was a good ending to the race, on one hand you had Jimmie Johnson going for his first victory of the season and in this day in age, victories are hard to come by in the Cup Series and on the other hand you had Clint bowyer saving gas in second, but at the same time the drivers who had stopped were charging hard, you had a race on your hands period. Would it be Johnson, Bowyer or Hamlin winning, good to see it was Johnson this time in victory lane. Comments.

- Racedriven

Oh yeah! Disney/Pixar announces Toy Story 3 in 2010 and Cars 2 in 2012.

This is big news for me as I love animated movies and while there is no official word on when or if there will be sequels for the Incredibles or Monsters Inc., however Disney/Pixars have announced in a press release that two of my favorite movies will each have another installment…


Credit: Disney/Pixar

First up is Toy Story 3 that is slated for June 2010, it is rumored that the store line might be that Buzz lightyear is recalled. This should be a good edition to my DVD collection as I already own the first two DVD’s.


Credit: Disney/Pixar

The second one, Cars 2, I love this movie, I purchased the Cars DVD the day it was released. There is word on who will be back or what the story line will be, I’m interested in seeing if the King Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip, along with Paul Newman will all be in this movie… Darrell Cartrip, cool. Comments.

Credit: Cinematical and PRNewswire.com

- Racedriven

Should the NASCAR All-Star Race be moved to a non-Cup racetrack like Iowa Speedway?

So here we are again, 38 days away from the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and if SPEED counting down every weekend starting in Daytona saying x number of days before the all-star race wasn’t enough, now Lowe’s Motor Speedway has announced that they will be painting the walls (formerly Nextel yellow), now Sprint yellow, oh brother.

While I don’t really care about the walls, the do think about the All-Star location and date, where should this race really be? In my opinion, the all-star really does count as a Cup Series race, it packs in fans from all over, so guess what, it’s a Sprint Cup Series race.

With that said, I do believe that in an age where Cup dates are already at a premium, the idea of rotating this race around should be an option, however that’s not what I had in mind. I would like to see NASCAR move the All-Star race from Lowe’s Motor Speedway to either another racetrack that only has one date or possibly one that has no cup date. The non-cup series date tracks is the best idea, it gives another racetrack that’s not on the Cup Series schedule a Cup date without adding another date to an already busy schedule instead of having the All-Star race where it is which in gives Lowe’s Motor Speedway 3 Cup Series dates.

So then, where should the All-Star race be?
I thought about so many different racetracks, however the location should be limited to either the mid-West or East Coast as this is a short race and we don’t want to add even more distance to the schedule.

So first, this would be my choice and the weekend should include a Nationwide or Truck Series race the night before… I’m think the state of art short-track in the mid-west, yes I am talking about Iowa Speedway, Rusty Wallace’s signature track… why not, they don’t have a cup series date, its short track racing at its finest under the lights, what could be better.

Second wouldn’t be my first choose and I wouldn’t know how fans would accept it as the race is for the fans, Kentucky Speedway. It would be a long shot there. Now why didn’t I choose some of the other notables like Las Vegas (It’s too far away) or Richmond (Already has two races on the schedule).

When should the All-Star race be?
This is an option here, I mean, the May date is nice, however it’s during a prime part of the season and another racetrack track like Atlanta, Bristol, Martinsville would benefit more in the middle of May, so what about putting it in the middle of the Chase for the Cup championship. It would be a break for the drivers and yet the fans would still get a cool race.

The second date that comes to mind is Labor day weekend, now I got your attention, I’m sorry but Labor Day weekend would be cool, racing at California Speedway sucks on Labor Day Weekend, so this weekend would be perfect for either the Southern 500 at Darlington (There only race of the season) or the All-Star race. I would also accept the Atlanta 500 in this spot if it means we still would race twice at Atlanta.

Oh by the way:
A couple of comments, subjects I’ve read about centering around Texas… First Ganassi Racing, hearing Chip speck like that is outragious, just do it Chip, talk is cheap, make real changes in your teams. Right now, your teams are not running good, maybe it’s time to put Dario in the Truck series or Nationwide Series for the rest of year to get more track time and more experience, he has none. Look at where each of your three teams performances, where are they lagging???

Edwards vs. Johnson??? That’s the best people can come up, yes Edward’s has won three races, but docked 100 points and 10 bonus points in the chase, there is also several other contenders in play, talk to me about championship after Indianapolis in late July, not before, don’t count out Gordon, Earnhardt Jr., Kenseth, Biffle, Burton, Stewart, the entire top 12, do I really need to go on, next subject.

With NASCAR continuing to make an example out of those teams who fall outside the rule book, it should be no surprise that NASCAR has handed down a penalty for the #12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing Dodge that I have to admit is dead on after his car failed post-race inspection from this past Sunday’s Texas 500 race, the penalty was 25 driver points, 25 owner points and crew chief was fined $25,000 and placed on probation until Dec 31st., like I said dead on, NASCAR is consistent. Comments.

- Racedriven

One year later for NASCAR's COT – Safety put to the test in Jeff Gordon’s and Michael McDowell’s wrecks.

In NASCAR’s eye’s, safety is #1 and for years now, if something happens on track, NASCAR, drivers and the teams are the first to respond with how to fix it and make it safer if it were to happen again. One of the reasons why NASCAR created the COT was to address the ever growing problems with safety, they wanted a new car that put safety at the forefront of the sport and after the two crashes that happened so far this season, the COT has held up well.

When it comes to the safety of the Car of (Tomorrow) Today being put to the test, two wrecks come to mind, the first one happened towards the late stages of the Las Vegas 400, Jeff Gordon came off of turn 2 and lost the car due to a wreck and slowing car in front of him and in turn hit the inside wall that didn’t have a SAFER Barrier on it and the wreck tore apart the front end, however Gordon did walk away. That crash sparked more in safety with why wasn’t there a safer barrier there, but the car did its job.

The second wreck came yesterday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway when during qualifying, Michael McDowell in the #00 on his second qualifying lap went into turn 1 and lost the rear end and the car went head on in to the outside wall with SAFER Barrier and sent his car flipping down the track and once the car finally came to rest, moments later Michael McDowell climbed out and walked to away. Safety, both wrecks showed the front end and/or the rear end completely destroyed, but the drivers cockpit was fully in tacked (together) and for all that, I have to give credit to NASCAR and the smart people involved in creating a safer COT Cup car and the SAFER Barrier. Something to note, in both cases, both of these cars including Jeff Gordon's Las Vegas wrecked car and Michael McDowell's Texas wreck cars were taken back to the NASCAR R&D Center in N.C.. Not surprising at all, it would surprise more if they didn't. It is standard practice.

The photo on right is Michael McDowell's #00 Cup car following his vicoius crash, what's left. (Photo Credit: Foxsports.com/Larry Papke - Associated Press )

With that said, David Poole has writen on Michael McDowell's wreck and had something very interesting to say including this quote: "Let's be clear about this. Dale Earnhardt saved Michael McDowell's life Friday." Do I agree with Poole's comments, yes, one thing that struck me about McDowell's wreck, it reminded me alot of Dale Earnhardt's wreck at the 2001 Daytona 500 that killed him, however thankfully this time, it had different results.

Now as the seventh race of the 2008 Cup Series season sets to go green in Texas, three safety issues should be addressed by NASCAR, first, one issue that crew chiefs have noticed is that during a pit stop, when a crew member goes to clean the front grill opening below the bumper, their hands while cleaning can get stunk between the cables that adjust the front splitter height anywhere from 4-6 inches. The solution could be to remove the cables and move the front grill out like on the Chevrolet Corvette pictured below or like on the old cup cars and adjust through springs and shocks.


Image was taken by me with a Kodak EasyShare DX6490

The second issue is at the racetracks themselves, tracks need to line the inside walls with safer barriers even where they think a car can’t go and adjust the openings for the safety vehicles, because more than likely, the cars will find a way to get in those spots.

And the third issue, the tires. This isn’t me bashing Goodyear, I could, but that would solve nothing, instead, I would like to hear and see what Goodyear plans to do about the tire issues. I noticed that during the 12 hours of Sebring, Michelin, who supplies tires to Audi, Peugeot, Acura, Porsche, Corvette and Ferrari, brought 5 different compounds (including one rain tire) to the track for the race for their teams… maybe Goodyear should supply a soft compound and a hard compound for teams to use during the race, that would make for an interesting race.

What about adding small groves to the tires to add more grip, Formula One uses them and their faster than a Cup car. Basically above are suggestions from this racing fan, not a tire specialized. Now I will leave you with this:

(From my previous post called “What is the biggest story to start the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season?”: The COT isn’t anything like the Nationwide car nor last year’s Cup Series car, it needs a totally different tire, nothing like what we have now, I like Ray Evernham’s suggestion on NASCAR Now, he said maybe it’s time for the COT to have a wider right side tire or a different size tire… Think about this, the Modified Tour Car that run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway among other tracks, run a wider right side tire and it looks like it works.

The Ray Evernham suggestion, the drivers, the teams, and the owners, they know what they are talking about, NASCAR and Goodyear need to listen to them. Comments.

If you enjoyed part two of One year later for NASCAR's COT, be sure to check out part one called “One year later for NASCAR's COT – Is it any better and what is the future?”

- Racedriven

The success, the top 35 battle and the struggles after five races in NASCAR’s Cup Series.

With a much needed off weekend for the drivers and teams that falls just after the five races of the 2008 season, NASCAR fans have already begun to see the top contenders emerge for not only the race victories, but also for the Chase for Sprint Cup and at least in my opinion, the results are surprising in some ways, remember it’s not about where you start the race, but were you finish and some drivers just can’t seem to endore the entire race for whatever reason.

So far the top contenders, the successful one’s seems to be with all four manufacturers, starting first would be Toyota, I know that some fans didn’t want to see that, but it is what it is and Toyota’s Motorsports program at least in NASCAR is paying off. The Gibbs drivers (Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin) don’t really surprise me at all even with Kyle Busch getting Toyota’s first Cup Series victory at Atlanta, however hats off to Michael Waltrip Racing, all three cars are in the top 35 in owners points, plus one Red Bull is in the top 35 as well, that’s huge.

Besides Toyota, Dodge has had one race or two that they have shined and of course with Penske Racing and Ryan Newman including Newman’s impressive victory in the Daytona 500, plus Kurt Busch has returned to the top 10 in owners points after that fun points swap.

When you look at Ford’s success, one team comes to mind, Roush-Fenway racing and the first thoughts that come to my mind is victories, however you wouldn’t know it by looking at Carl Edwards points standings, that Las Vegas penalty has already been felt and will be felt again once the chase begins, I expect to see two Roush cars in the chase including Edwards… Watch for Kenseth and Biffle to move up.

However, for this racing fan, over the past couple of years, I seem to have become a Chevrolet fan more and more and not just in NASCAR, but in general including ALMS to name another and yes, even with Tony Stewart switching to Toyotas. So I am a little surprise, but not concerned with the start of Hendrick Motorsports with the exception of Dale Earnhardt Jr., which is my favorite driver, yes I know, I’m trying not to play favorites, but hay, this is cool so far for Junior, he is having his best start this season in years and despite the California finish, his results are great, 3 top 5 finishes and a top 9 finish at Daytona, plus he is the one who is carrying the Hendrick banner right now. For those who are concerned about Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, don’t be, never count either of them out, they’ll be there in, in the chase.

Staying with Chevy, the RCR guys are slowing moving in, watch these three, there silent, but fast and if Bristol was anything with a 1-2-3 finish with Burton in victory lane which it is, there here.

Oh yeah, that covered top 35… NASCAR has seemed to have created a new drama show to watch somewhat, the top 35 bubble, that 35th spot that the fight is on weekly with Sam Hornish Jr. in it and Jamie McMurray, Dave Blaney and others want it.

I have never been a huge supporter of the top 35 rule, it’s a golden pass and whoever has it can start the weekend working on race setup while the driver’s outside, are pure qualifying setup and on wondering if they will be in or out. I know NASCAR isn’t going to give the top 35 rule up, however here’s three suggestions:
1) Change the top 35 to top 22 or top 25, the fight would have more drama on pole day, that’s 10 to 13 more cars, think about that...
2) Once the season starts, no owner’s points swap, NASCAR can’t stop it in the off season, however during the season, no way, now that effecting the sponsor, drivers and the teams, one minute your in and the next your out. When you start the season, you have what you have until the end of the season, no exceptions.
3) Qualifying for the go or go home drivers must if possible take place even if no qualifying for the top 35 drivers can, there’s a huge difference, the top 35 drivers are already in the race and are just simply qualifying for a starting position and a better pit selection, while the go or go home drivers are fighting for survival to just make the race, put them out back, at least they have a shot this way.

Well, so far for the owner’s points swap, there isn’t any from Roush-Fenway nor Petty Enterprise, however what if Hornish Jr. goes out after Martinsville, there’s a queston mark. However when it comes to the points swap for the #00 and the #44, I am expecting to see David Reutimann take his owner’s points that he earned with him to the #44, it’s a 94 point difference, that’s huge and it’s not really a points swap because he earned them.

The struggles, this will not include Johnson and Gordon, nor for Edwards, there not even close, however with that said, I am surprised to see Casey Mears down here, he can drive, I know he can. As for Kyle Petty, all I got to say is, he’s in his normal spot, however I’m waiting for two open wheel invaders make there mark, first Dario Franchitti, who is still searching and getting experience, second, Patrick Carpentier, who is getting stronger. I’ll leave this part with one comment, as much as I respect these two drivers, it’s still too early to be in the Cup Series for A.J. Allmendinger and Dario Franchitti, run these two in the Truck series or at least in the Nationwide Series, they need seat time period.

Now I will leave you with two thoughts: First, if drivers want more seat time for the Cup Series COT, drive in the Truck Series, not the Nationwide Series, these Cup Series COT’s handle little a Truck, the trucks have the splitter and are a handful and that’s the description of the COT.

Second, When I look at the first five races, it’s all four manufacturers in, it’s about as even as it’s going to get, they all have at least one team or owner in it competing for victories on a weekly basis, they all have at least one victory, isn’t that was NASCAR wanted? I only wish it was the same way when it comes to the Goodyear tire tests... Comments.

- Racedriven

Survival is still the name of the game at Bristol.

When the subject of Bristol racing comes up among racing fans, the react seems to be very surprising since NASCAR and the Bristol Motor Speedway both introduced two new eliminates into the racing, the first one coming from NASCAR being there new Car of Tomorrow that debuted at this very race last year under heavy criticism, the second was introduced last fall by Bristol Motor Speedway themselves, the new variable banking with a smoother surface. Both have resulted in fans asking what happened to the old Bristol, why change Bristol?

When I look back at the previous Bristol races that most fans remember (1992 – 2007), the first description that comes to mind is a one grove racetrack that in order to pass, the driver would have to almost and in some case bump the car in front and move them out of the way, if you went into the higher grove, you got freight trained to back and at Bristol, that doesn’t take much… it’s a beating and banging race of survival that created instead excitement.

Three races that come to mind during are, first August 1995, one the last lap, Dale Earnhardt tries to pass to Terry Labonte and clips him, sending Terry into the wall across the start finish line winning the race, the victory picture was amazing, how about the spring 1994 race were Dale Earnhardt spun out Terry Labonte into the wall and went on to win, or even the famous last lap bump and runs that went down countless times, one that I remember in 1997, Jeff Gordon gave a bump and run to Rusty Wallace in the middle of 3 and 4, like I said, all legendary races, some of the best races and best finishes in NASCAR history were at Bristol.

So when you look back at all of that excitement that fans live for, what’s the real difference between then a now? In a lot of ways, you can’t compare, it’s was a different track, different car, different time and for many, different drivers (Earnhardt, Labonte, Waltrip, Wallace, Jarrett to name a few), welcome to the new age. Through the eyes of this racing fan, the old Bristol, the concrete, one grove, game of survival days that produced amazing racing for the fans and nightmare for the drivers, now, with the new COT that debuted at this race one year ago, that still produced good one grove survival racing that was a little different, but not much.

So, what about this past weekend race (Spring 2008), this one was one for the record books in my opinion, I would say it’s more like the asphalt surface days, the side-by-side racing that produced good racing before the concrete was laid. That was a time that some remember, however don’t when they are describing Bristol, it was the days of Petty, Earnhardt, Waltrip, Allison, Yarborough, Gant, Junior Johnson, the days mostly before I started watching, those races were on asphalt which included Darrell Waltrip’s 7 consecutive victories from 1981 - spring 1984, those races remind me a lot of today’s racing. It’s still mostly the same, a game of survival and this time, even if you got the bottom grove, there were no guaranty of making the pass.

The COT does make for better racing and remember what I said after last fall’s Bristol race, give the surface some time to age, the racing will get better and what do you know, it has gotten better, I can’t wait until the fall Bristol race under the lights, I can’t think of a better way to spend my birthday (August 23rd).

This Bristol racing was a good combination (being the COT and new surface), it worked for me, it wasn’t boring and as always, it produced a great finish, who would have thought Burton in 5th place with less than 10 to go would have won this one, although new tires and avoiding a late race wreck will do that, how many times have we seen that and just like back in Daytona with Newman winning the 500, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy, Chevrolet back in the winner’s circle. One person told me, he was routing for anyone not driving a Toyota, damn, it’s still an American sport, but that’s for another time.

Like I said, one for the record books including a RCR 1-2-3 plus Dale Jr. in 5th, a good day all around. Comments.

(Image Credit: Terry Labonte 1995 Bristol win - AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

- Racedriven

One year later for NASCAR's COT – Is it any better and what is the future?

At this time last year, drivers, teams, owners, media and the fans were all talking about what was about to be introduced, the controversial Car of Tomorrow, it was NASCAR’s answer to controlling the series better including limiting changes that crew chiefs could make to their cars and to save the teams money, having the same car run on all four types of racetrack, so what would be the future for this ugly, yet more safer car for the Cup Series?

Last Year after the conclusion of the Bristol race, I wrote this:

“Despite throwing the COT in the mix, I really didn’t see a difference between yesterday’s race and years past. The action was all the same, beating and banging for 500 laps and if at the end you were within the top 3 spots, you had a shot to win.Most of this race was dominated by Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin, even the #18 car got in on it by leading a couple of laps, but it all changed with first a fuel-pump gone bad and then Jimmie Johnson cutting down a tire and not getting on the apron quick enough, that gave Busch the lead. Then it began…

What a final couple of laps showdown, Kyle Busch leads, Jeff Gordon second, Burton third and Harvick/Biffle fighting for fourth. When it went green for the green-white-checkers, it was on with Burton grabbing second on the high side going though one and two and fighting Busch for the lead, but it wasn’t to be for Burton, Kyle Busch holds on by inches to win the first COT race and gets 600th victory for Chevrolet. Now that’s Bristol racing at its finest.”

Since that debut race at Bristol one year ago, everyone including NASCAR has gone through a learning curve for this car and now that it has run in 19 races and has gone full time in 2008, there is some pros and cons to this one:

Pros, the impact of the COT has been felt in several ways,
1) the COT has created better racing at most tracks it has be run on including under the lights in Phoenix, 2) the same COT can run on all four types of tracks, you can test one day at Talladega and run the same COT the next weekend at Bristol or Phoenix. 3) the jury for the safety aspect is for the most part in and the results are good, I have seen this car take a beating and still keep going, since its debut, there has been one wreck recently that stands out to me, Jeff Gordon’s wreck at Las Vegas two weeks ago when he lost it coming off turn 2 and hit head on into a concrete wall that was curved and while the front end was totaled, Jeff was able to walk away, and in the process speck to the media with no problems, that was good to see that Jeff was standing right there a couple minutes later after the wreck.

Cons are simple to state, while NASCAR has not only limited the crew chiefs changing the COT which is good in some ways, they have created a simply zero tolerance policy that has meet with NASCAR handing down several heavy penalties against drivers, teams and crew chiefs that are for the littlest thing out of place or changed and that in some cases were hard to handle including their one size basically fits all penalty that everyone who was handed a penalty received

The most outspoken one came back at Las Vegas when in Carl Edwards and the #99 team was hit with – docked 100 driver and 100 owner points, crew chief was suspended for 6 races, fined $100k and on probation, plus a twist if you will, if the #99 makes the chase, they will not receive the extra 10 point bonus for winning the Las Vegas race and all this for a oil lid that was found several inches off and it was reported that the rear window had loose bolts on it… Personally I find it hard to believe that 3 threaded bolts all backed off during the race and came off, now going into Bristol, Roush-Fenway racing will not appeal and I think that’s wise, they wouldn’t have won, I think the penalty would have been raised.

As for the future of the COT, NASCAR said it,”get use to it, it’s here to stay” (paraphrased) and it is, the future is somewhat bright for this car, it is still ugly and does have a couple more safety issues to address, however, so far in the first four races of the 2008 Cup Series Season has made racing better, but like I said, there is still two big safety issues and one ugly look holding the COT back from being successful.

What are the safety issues? First is the tires (No, I’m not bashing Goodyear, however I just want good racing period.) and second, the front grill, wiping the front grill with the strips in front of it is dangerous and a crew member can get hurt. Comments.

- Racedriven

What is the biggest story to start the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season?

When it comes to picking the biggest story so far this season, that’s a tough one considering all that had gone on in just the first four races (Daytona, Monday in California, Las Vegas and Atlanta), so what are the top four?

First, the manufacturer war between not just Chevrolet and Toyota, but Ford and Dodge has started to step up too.

When Toyota signed Joe Gibbs Racing last year, it gave Toyota a huge piece of the puzzle that they were looking for to compete with the Detroit big three on a weekly basis and since the beginning of the season at Daytona, all four manufacturers – Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge and Toyota have all been running up front, first Dodge won at Daytona with Ryan Newman, then Ford won with Carl Edwards back-to-back races at California and Las Vegas and just this past weekend at the not so hot Atlanta, Kyle Busch in his Gibbs Racing Toyota gave Toyota there first Cup Series victory. A major part of Toyota’s success right now is Gibbs racing and Kyle Busch’s victory.

While the battle is all four manufacturers right now, I still believe that by the end of the season in the most wins category and for the championship, it will be a duel between Chevrolet (mainly Hendrick Motorsports, but look for RCR Racing to contend) and Toyota (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Second, the better racing of the full-time COT.
So far this season except for Atlanta, there has been better racing all the way around and I believe that to be mainly because of the COT. The safety is also better with the COT, but more can be done.

Third, the two penalties handed down by NASCAR to first Robby Gordon after Daytona for an unapproved nose and second to Carl Edwards for an oil lid being found several inches off and loose bolts on the side rear window.

I can’t believe that these penalties in reason weeks have been the headline grabbers even with the better racing on-track, but when you have a one size fits all penalty that is handed down for any COT infraction, you are bound make headlines let along the infractions themselves. First after Daytona was the Robby Gordon penalty that was over turned in the appeals process to just a fine, a real big fine of $150k which goes to the NASCAR foundation, is NASCAR looking for donations? While the Gordon penalty has concluded and was over turned, I can’t say the same for the Carl Edwards penalty, ironicly enough, the penalty he got could fit the bill, well there’s a first for everything.

There has been more and more info coming out about this controversy, but how much of it is true? “My Take”, after hearing and seeing a couple of examples of what happened, I find it hard to believe that 3 threaded bolts all backed off and came off, resulting in the oil lid being found several inches off and to top it off, there are pictures showing that the side window had loose bolts on it and that would open letting the gas out. I’m amazed that fans haven’t heard of this sooner and for that matter, why hasn’t teams tried this sooner?

Fourth, believe it or not, the Top 35 in owners points vs. the Go or Go Home drivers.
Since NASCAR created the top 35, it really hasn’t been much of an issue until last year and this year it’s even worse, it has created a whole new story that really shouldn’t be (at least 35, why not 22?), anyway, next week’s race at Bristol marks the final time that the 2007 owners points for the top 35 will be used and then starting at Martinsville, it will be the current 2008 owners points and there’s were it gets fun. Over the off season, one story was Penske racing robbing #2-Busch’s points to give to #77-Hornish, now Hornish Jr. finds himself outside the top 35 along with among others and what will be the next new story, the #45-Kyle Petty, what story? Petty Enterprises is considering swapping the #43-Bobby Labonte’s points with #45-Kyle Petty because like I said, the slow car of Petty is outside the top 35, just one question, I understand since Jarrett is retiring after Martinsville and Busch is back in the top 35, Labonte would be the next champion in line for the championship provisional, but what happens when the #45 drops again? Not cool to even think of and in mid-season. That's not the only point swap, Penske Racing could make the switch again sending Busch outside the top 35 with 5 championship provisionals left, plus other teams could do it as well.

NASCAR, see loop hole, fix it please.

So after looking at all four chooses and taking into account all four races (Daytona, California, Las Vegas and Atlanta), and even though the penalties raised a lot of headlines, I would still say that the manufacturers war is the biggest story of the season so far, why? While the penalties are big, those have and will fade, the manufacturer wars one the other hand has made huge headlines from the very beginning even before the Daytona 500 and with three manufacturers winning this season including Kyle Busch’s victory for Toyota, its finally somewhat equal (I think Toyota does have more power, but NASCAR will study that). The biggest surprise that I don’t think will continue is Chevrolet not winning even though Dale Jr. among others Chevy drivers has been right there.

Before I go, I would like to say three things, 1) the Atlanta race wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good. 2) I have noticed that Kyle Busch is getting better with his interviews, I see a little of Joe Gibbs in him, I think Gibbs has really talked to him and told him how to handle himself, good job. 3) The COT isn’t anything like the Nationwide car nor last year’s Cup Series car, it needs a totally different tire, nothing like what we have now, I like Ray Evernham’s suggestion on NASCAR Now, he said maybe it’s time for the COT to have a wider right side tire or a different size tire… Think about this, the Modified Tour Car that run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway among other tracks, run a wider right side tire and it looks like it works. Comments.

- Racedriven

Everybody loses with NASCAR’s one size fits all penalties for COT infractions.

So far in the record books, NASCAR has been running the COT for 16 races last season as an introduction to getting teams, drivers, fans and even NASCAR a custom to this new monster and now, as we sit three races into this season (19 COT races total), two things are for sure, 1) the racing has gotten better with the addition of the COT and 2) the penalties are just like the COT, one size fits all and on both sides of that, neither way works.

The one size fits all for templates are giving no real identity to each manufacturer besides decals, however that isn’t the subject right now, it’s the penalties issue that seems to be popping up several times over the past several months, to date, NASCAR has handed down five penalties at least that I remember for COT related issues which basically means another that has to do with COT and they have all been for totally different “issues”, basically unrelated to each other.
The penalties are basically all the same, the driver and owner are docked 100 points each, the crew chief is fined $100k and suspended for 6 races, plus probation and when you factor in what the penalties are given for, it doesn’t make sense at all.

To date, the #7-R.Gordon (found in pre-qualifying) penalty was for an unapproved nose, #8-D. Earnhardt Jr. (found in pre-qualifying) for modified rear wing brackets, and #24-J. Gordon & #48-J. Johnson (found in pre-qualifying) for two crew chiefs making modifications to the front fenders.

Last month, an outcry came about after Robby Gordon was given the one size fits all penalty for an unapproved front nose that was issued to him from his new manufacturer Dodge that had the same part number with a dash after it, the piece hasn’t been approved yet and Robby Gordon didn’t know that.

Previously I had said (and I still say) on this very subject that: “While I don’t agree with the penalty at all and I feel for Robby Gordon, however since NASCAR has backed themselves into a corner with issuing the same penalty to every offender, there for I still believe that NASCAR made the only call that they could and it is the correct one, at least they stayed consistent.”
You know with every statement which in this case is “at least they stayed consistent” is good in most cases, however in this case, the consistent with a one size fits all penalty makes every penalty questionable at best.

Now as I sit here and write this, two more penalties have been effected within the past couple of hours, first NASCAR has handed down there penalty for Carl Edwards and Roush-Fenway Racing, yes another one size fits all with a twist, Carl Edwards is docked 100 driver points, Roush is docked 100 owner points, Bob Osborne crew chief was fined $100k, suspended for 6 races and probation, plus the twist, if the #99 makes the chase, they will not get the 10 bonus points for winning Las Vegas… Wow, what a twist, they got penalized twice, first the normal (to NASCAR anyway) and again for at the beginning of the chase. So this one’s a double hit all for the oil tank reservoir cover being off which does more harm at least to the driver then good. It’s not an aero advantage, it will however cause harm to the driver. Again they gave Carl Edwards the same penalty for something totally different.

However if you thought that was huge, Robby Gordon’s appeal was heard and… the new penalty reads $150k fine which goes to the NASCAR Foundation for its charitable initiatives, no points docked… Congrats to Robby Gordon, the penalty in the beginning was unfair and what a blow to NASCAR’s penalty system, like I said in the beginning, one size doesn’t fit all period.

With that said, now it’s NASCAR’s turn to make things right in 2008, (I understand that it’s a learning curve for the COT, but you still need to make things right) starting with Carl Edward’s penalty as Robby Gordon’s penalty was changed, however what to give Carl Edwards “for a safety or is it in your case aero advantage” is debatable, going by past penalties for either way, how about docking Carl Edwards 50 driver points, #99-Roush-Fenway Racing 50 owner points, the crew chief is suspended for four races for a safety issue or aero advantage. This is the same penalty that #17-M. Kenseth and Roush Racing received after a Daytona 2007 infraction and that wasn’t a COT penalty.

So basically, 1) will NASCAR make it right starting in 2008 with Carl Edwards/Roush-Fenway Racing with a better penalty, 2) what will the appeal be for Edwards if not and 3) have we all learned anything?

Check out this article: The Science of... missing oil tank covers
Credit for the list of penalties goes to Jayski.

- Racedriven

Speedway Expo kicks off the 2008 Northeast racing season, but how was it?

Image taken by me: Tony Stewart's 1980's Hearse at the Unique Whips booth.

There isn’t a year that goes by that up here in the Northeast that we don’t have a Motorsports expo of some kind that kicks off the next racing season, in the past, the show was called Racearama, that was held mainly at the Big E in Springfield, Massachusetts, last year it was the first annual Speedway Expo and this year, it was no different with the second annual Speedway Expo, however unlike the last year's, this past weekend’s wasn’t much to really talk about.

Before we even got on the road, we already had a problem, we had to try and find two $5.00 off admission coupons at an Sunoco station that carried them and believe me when I say it, only Springfield stations might have them, no such luck, all out, you think considering we are on there mailing list and have a Sunoco credit card, it would be easier, nope, full admission for both my father and I, $15 each, plus $5 parking fee, great $35 dollars plus tolls, food at McDonalds (yeah twice eating there) and of course gas at $3.15 a gallon.

So what was and wasn’t on there? Well since we were forced to go Sunday Morning, Will Castro from Unique Whips with Tony Stewart’s Custom black hearse was on hand, what a creation, I’ve never seen anything like it, we passed it three times because of its location and we walk around twice, they had the Sunoco OCC built Chopper, nice one there, very detailed, that must be fast, but those spokes are tiny and three #40 Matt Kobyluck Mohegan Sun Resort Chevrolet Monte Carlo, yeah I said three including one at the newly renamed New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s booth. At the third booth, the guy asked me if he wanted him to move for picture of the #40 car, my reply, no need, this is the third time I had seen it at this show and already have several photos, he said, yeah, Kobyluck’s team got requests for three show cars.

Well, with that said, I ask to the organizers, were was more of the NASCAR Modifieds and the Camping World East Series Cars including last year’s East Champion and winner of the Toyota Showdown in California Joey Logona’s car, how about more racing collectibles, I’m just saying, where was everything?

All in all it was an interesting show, but having to pay full admission, parking fee and not having a lot there in a smaller space, it wasn’t worth it and since we got there just after 10am, we were home before 1:30pm with a little over a hour drive, go figure, good Cup series race, second place for Dale Jr.. I’ll think about going next year.

Image taken by me with my Kodak EasyShare DX6490:


Left: Rear view of Tony Stewart's Unique Hearse, Right: Sunoco Orange County Chopper.


Left: Todd Szegedy's No. 2 Wisk-Snuggle Modified Tour car, Right: #4 Modified Tour car and #40 Matt Kobyluck Mohegan Sun Resort Chevrolet Monte Carlo East Series Car.

Hopefully I will have more photos soon, but check out that hearse with the blue led's on.

- Racedriven

Should the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana be converted into a high-banked, restrictor-plate track?

When I first hear that Michael Waltrip made a suggestion to the president of the newly renamed Auto Club Speedway of Southern California with the idea of converting the racetrack to a restrictor-plate track by building up the corners to 33-35 degrees of banking and the fact that they are seriously considering it , I have to admit that at first I said “What, are you kinding me, another restrictor-plate, yeah we need that?”, however the more I thought about it, I began to understand one thing, that in fact that the speedway does need a new identity.

Currently the racing at the Auto Club Speedway has been boring for the most part with the previous car, it’s not like Michigan racing, its long, drawn out caution free racing with the ending coming out to be a huge lead and in some cases a fuel economy race, so yeah, it does need a change. However I will say that this past Sunday night-Monday afternoon’s 500 mile race with the new COT car was better than in previous years, it was more side-by-side racing, but again, the large lead at this race track just keeps coming back.

So what should the identity be considering there is a short-track 1 mile in Phoenix, a 1.5 mile in Las Vegas that is less than 200 miles away and there is a road course in Sonoma, so at this point, I am beginning to understand why a restrictor-plate track might be worth it.

Now don’t get me wrong, I hate restrictor-plate racing for the most part, I do enjoy Daytona because at least you have to have a handling car to get to the front and stay there and its heart pounding including with the Daytona 500, however Talladega is not appearing and some of the time I would rather go shopping, work a to-do list and so on, it’s a Demotion Derby period, so no love there.

So what then, the way I see it, they have two choices:
First they could go with Michael Waltrip’s idea of changing it into a restrictor-plate track that should be a 2.0 mile with 33-35 degree banking.

Second, what about a Homestead type race track, a normal Darlington, an old Atlanta, a 1.3-1.5 mile track with two long drag strips and two tight with variable high-banked corners, the racing is good at Homestead and the setup could work for California. Think about it, Homestead is cool, Darlington is tight under the lights and the old Atlanta track which was a 1.54-mile quad-oval track…the point is they all produce good racing and there is no similar track in or around California.

Either hopefully will work and it would give the speedway a new identity.

Finally, the Auto Club Speedway have the same problem as the Atlanta Motor Speedway does, your current dates are not in good seasons let along that NASCAR races on the same night as an awards banquet, its either raining, way to hot or just a nightmare for fans to sit in the grandstands for hours and that should be the first change you make.

Personally I want Darlington back on Labor Day weekend with the Southern 500 and that could work with a three-way swap with all three speedways. Mother’s day in California or Atlanta, start there.

- Racedriven

Was NASCAR’s penalty issued against Robby Gordon after Daytona fair?

It’s a simple question and yet what a reaction that this penalty has received from fans, sponsors, drivers and people in the NASCAR community including t-shirts, banners, petition and more.

So if you haven’t heard, this past Wednesday, NASCAR handed down a heavy penalty against Robby Gordon for an unapproved nose piece that was discovered on opening day during the inspection at Daytona, the penalty is 100 driver points and 100 owner points, the crew chief is suspended for 6 races, fined $100k and put on probation until December 31st.

Robby Gordon is saying on his website that: This was an innocent mistake made by someone not even on my team. They accidentally supplied us the new Dodge noses that NASCAR hasn't yet approved because of what amounted to a clerical error. It was discovered during technical inspection and corrected before the race. It was not even close to being an intent to create some competitive advantage, and the mistake was not even made by my team. This penalty is way out of proportion when you compare it what happened last year when a team was penalized 100 points for adding a substance to the fuel, or when a team deliberately changed the bodies of the COT. To penalize my team the same amount when we didn't even make the mistake, and the mistake was nothing more than inadvertent human error by someone else is just not fair. Other teams who have had similar issues to what happened with the nose on my car were only penalized 25 points. (Read More)

So is there really something bigger here and did NASCAR make the right call? Basically, like I said in the beginning, it is a simple question and while I feel for Robby Gordon that he did get the wrong nose after switching manufacturers late on from Ford to Dodge, it’s still Robby Gordon’s responsibility for everything that not only he does, but everything that is on his car and that’s it. Its not NASCAR’s fault nor responsibility otherwise, so I still believe that NASCAR made the only call that they could and it is the correct one, at least they stayed consistent.

In the past NASCAR has issued the same size penalties for unapproved parts or illegal parts or anything relating to the COT and the message has been clear, if you mess with the COT you will be penalized heavy and the average penalty has been 100 driver/owners points, crew chief suspended for 6 races, fined $100k and on probation for the rest of the year.

This is not the first time that NASCAR has handed down a penalty such as this, last year after the Darlington race, Dale Earnhardt Jr, was penalized the same for an unapproved rear wing mounting brackets. (Read my previous post here.)

I really don’t see that there is anything else that NASCAR can do at this point, its all up to the appeals process which looks like it will happen somewhere around the Atlanta race since Gordon lives on the west coast.

In reply to a comment from Johnny:
I understand what you are saying, however the way that NASCAR has issued penalties in the past, they have backed themselves into a corner and the only fair thing that they can do is hand out 100 driver/owner points, 100k fines and crew chief gets suspended for 6 races to anyone who messes or has a wrong part on the COT regardless of what caused it.Do I like the penalites no, do I agree, no, so I am interested in seeing if Gordon's penalty is overturned or reduced.

- Racedriven

How would you rate the 50th running of the Daytona 500? How about Speedweeks in General?

The entire Speedweeks at Daytona was one for the record books for the Cup Series in both a positive and a negative way. When speedweeks started off with the “One Big” on the Friday night before the Budweiser Shootout that involved Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch, I was asking why isn’t NASCAR parking Kurt Busch for the aftermath of him slamming into Stewart twice while entering pit road, however some including me were surprised the next Tuesday when NASCAR handed down a probation of 6-races for each driver, I was shocked.

At that point I asked two questions, first being why was Stewart given a 6-race probation, he didn’t do anything that I noticed and second, only probation for Busch… I could understand maybe not parking him, but please. NASCAR wants the drivers to show more emotions and the way I look at is that what happened at Walkins Glen last season between Harvick and Montoya, the key there, they were outside of there cars and not punching each other, that I like, that’s emotion.

However using you car as a weapon doesn’t work at all for me period and its an automatic penalty. I guess the third question should have been what is probation and what happens next? In that case who knows, will we see NASCAR react in that case… who knows and I wouldn’t count on it.

The Budweiser Shootout on the other hand showed a good race with lead changes and action thoughout the field and it ended with Dale Jr. winning his first race driving for Hendrick Motorsports. When you followed that up with the two Duel races that showed the same results with Dale Jr. winning the first Duel and Denny Hamlin in his Toyota winning the second duel.

At this point, it was all a building up to the 50th running of the Daytona 500 which I would rate somewhere in the lower part of the top 10. In no way does it even come close to last years with the second closes finish in 500 history and the wreck coming to the checkered nor does it top either the 1979 with the fight in the infield nor the famous 1998 500 when Dale Earnhardt after 20 years of trying won the 500 and the incredible seen on pit road following the race. However the 50th was a good one nonetheless.

I would describe the 50th Daytona 500 as what we had seen all week long, good close racing with a car that put on a good show and to top it all off, while you had a couple of different strung out packs at times and you needed a partner to do almost anything, the ending was one a little like last year in terms of coming up on the last lap to win, and what surprise winner with a last lap pass that brought me back even more towards last year and it all ended not with Tony Stewart who was leading on the white flag or Kyle Busch who lead the most laps, but with the Rocketman Ryan Newman pulling off the upset victory.


A surprise winner - the Rocketman Ryan Newman wins the 50th running of the Daytona 500. (Credit: Motorsport.com)

Be honest now, how many people picked Ryan Newman to win, let along Dodge to win, not me, I was behind Dale Jr. and I wouldn’t have been surprised if one of the Hendrick drivers nor a Gibbs driver won this race. I have to tip my hat to Ryan Newman, great show, way to be there at the end. Good winner, the nice guy in this case did finish first.

In the end, Speedweeks was good and so the Daytona 500, I even enjoyed the way NASCAR paid tribute to their history with the past winners, now it’s off to California, let’s go racing boys.

- Racedriven

Will the 2008 NASCAR season be a duel between Hendrick in Chevrolet vs Gibbs in Toyota?

Normally, I really wouldn’t want to make a prediction this bold on a season that really hasn’t started yet, however based on what I have seen in the past week and taking the last couple of years into account, I would have to say YES, the odds are in there favor. When you look at Speedweeks in Daytona as of right now (Friday night), before the two big races, the week has belonged to both of these manufacturers and teams in huge ways.

Starting with the Sprint Cup Series, the Budweiser Shootout showed three things, first the racing so far with this new car is getting better, some including Dale Jr. have said that this car handles more like the cars of old, very loss… and in a lot of cases, that’s what we wanted right? Could be, the second, both the Chevrolets and Toyotas mainly the Hendrick and Gibbs cars lead a lot of laps and for Gibbs, switching to Toyota really didn’t slow these guys down at all and yes I am surprised, but I shouldn’t be. Third, personally for me, Dale Jr. has not only gotten along with his new teammates, but Dale Jr. won the Budweiser shootout with a final push by his teammate Johnson past Stewart for his first Hendrick victory.

The next day for qualifying saw happyness for both manufacturers with Jimmie Johnson on pole and Michael Waltrip (Toyota) in 2nd place. Following that up in the Duels with both Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning the first Duels race and Denny Hamlin picking up the victory in the second Duel race which both races continued to produce better racing.

Staying with the Duels for a moment, I would like to congratuate Kenny Wallace in his Chevrolet along with the entire Waltrip Racing team in Toyotas for qualifying for the 500, with that, Dale Jarrett will be racing in his last Daytona 500, sad to hear. I was surprised to see Boris Said, Bill Elliott in the #21 wood Bros. Ford, Patrick Carpentier and more didn’t qualify… I hate the top 35 rule.

So will this Duel continue on into the Nationwide Series, I have to say, yes, at least manufacturers it will as RCR Racing in Chevys try to defend there 2007 Owner’s Championship.

So after all that, boy was I surprised to read and hear about JR Motorsports/Hendrick:
(From ESPN.com - The No. 5 car Earnhardt will drive in Saturday's Nationwide Series opener was impounded by NASCAR on Thursday night after officials discovered the team altered the spoiler to create an aerodynamic advantage following inspection.

The car was returned on Friday morning minus the trunk lid and spoiler, repaired and sent back through inspection. It will be allowed to run in the race.

Joe Balash, the Nationwide Series director, said further sanctions against the team and crew chief Chad Walter will be issued on Tuesday. NASCAR officials considered sending Walter home because the offense was considered blatant, but opted to hold off on what could result in a suspension.)

In that case, I would say seeing the crew chief be suspended indefently wouldn’t be out of the question along with some huge fines and points loss to say the least. In the Nationwide Series qualifying, Tony Stewart won the pole in a JGR Toyota, so far the Duel is in full swing.

So with all that said, I was asked about a week ago, what about Ford and Dodge and will Ford reduce funding? My reply was: “ I'm not sure about these two manufacturers right now, I believe that so far Chevrolet and Toyota are the frontrunners in the Cup Series, Roush could be a frontrunner…As for Ford reducing this year? No, no way, they are in this for the long run, however, next year could happen. I just read not to long ago that Ford is giving the data received from Roush Racing's 7 post shacker to all of the other