Motorsports FanHouse

Dale Jr.'s Crew Chief Won't Be Leaving

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:02:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Crew Chiefs, Sprint Cup, Hendrick Motorsports

Less than five races into the 2009 season, the talk regarding Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief Tony Eury Jr. has already reached the front burner.

And if we're lucky, the talk will subside sometime after the 2009 season ends -- barring two things: Earnhardt wins the championship or Eury Jr. finds a new role.

But Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. made one thing crystal clear ahead of Sunday's Food City 500: crew chief Tony Eury Jr. isn't going anywhere.

Why, you may wonder, is Eury Jr. starting to feel a little heat so early in the season? Isn't it crazy to call for guy's head -- or significant improvement -- after roughly 11 percent of the 2009 has been completed?

Sure, but when your name is Dale Earnhardt Jr., not much about the analysis of a racing career is just and fair. And when the 2009 chapter of that racing career has been a complete letdown in the first four races, the heat gets turned up a notch or three.

First, there was Daytona, where Earnhardt Jr. caused the majority of the teams problems with several mental mistakes that took the No. 88 from an obvious contender to an also-ran pretender. In the process, he ticked off several drivers with a dramatic move along the backstretch that caused a multi-car pileup.

The following week, Earnhardt Jr. suffered an engine failure just laps apart from his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin. Such a problem wasn't a result of either Eury Jr. or Earnhardt Jr.'s doing, but the problem that also afflicted shop-sharing Martin didn't leave a good taste in the mouths of No. 88 fans.

Las Vegas' Shelby 427 was consistent, but consistently vanilla for Earnahrdt Jr. He never ran higher than 8th-place and finished 10th. And just two weekends ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. had more of the same with a car that was no better than a 10th-place effort all day, and he wound up 11th.

Simply, the No. 88 hasn't been competitive for race wins and by the way the last handful of season-ending championships have turned out, that's not going to get Earnhardt Jr. anywhere near his first title.

Friday, though, Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged that his team hasn't run as well as hoped, but in the same breath also made it vehemently clear that Eury Jr. isn't going anywhere.

"I'm willing to accept the ups and downs and the goods and bads that come with it," said Earnhardt Jr. "We haven't run like we want to, like I think we should. It's alright for everyone to point that out. I have said it a hundred times, and it just doesn't seem to make a dent, but, the guy that I feel bad for is Tony, Jr. because he gets criticized so badly."

That criticism makes Earnhardt Jr. uncomfortable because he feels that the blame gets wrongly placed.

"I would rather be crucified than him," said Earnhardt Jr., "Because every time I read in the paper that people are on his case, I feel like I am sending my brother to jail for a crime I committed, you know what I mean. It is kind of tough sometimes, but I feel bad for him because he just wants to work and have fun. He just wants to race."

That desire to race is something that Earnhardt Jr. keeps close to his heart when discussing he and Eury Jr.'s relationship.

"It is a tough deal because we have a lot of sponsors and you have a lot of people, a lot of fans," said Earnhardt Jr. "You are in a big sport and each wants to go out there and make it happen. But at the same time, I like racing with my cousin. Whether we are the perfect combination or not, that doesn't mean anything to me. I just like racing with him. That is what I want to do, you know, for the rest of my life."

In other words, Earnhardt Jr. seems to be making a couple of points desperately clear. The first is that he understands that he needs to run better, and second, Tony Eury Jr. is not going anywhere that Earnhardt Jr. won't be.

Regardless of how you look at the situation, you've got to expect that loyalty. It's not too often that guys in big time sports say "Hey, if I'm going to win, I'm going to do it with family and guys I like being around" even if that means a small sacrifice in production.

Me? I think Earnhardt Jr. wouldn't be much as a driver without Eury Jr. on-board simply because of how well they can get after one another and make up later. Look at every sport -- if a team has chemistry, the rest of the package can come together. But when it doesn't (the recent New York Yankees, for example) talent alone doesn't take a team far.

It's a must that Earnhardt Jr. picks up the pace this season and becomes at least a legitmate factor late in the season for a championship, and I'll be highly surprised if he doesn't. In the meantime, though, fans hoping for a change in crew chief on the No. 88 pit box better start looking for a new excuse, for Tony Eury Jr. isn't going anywhere.

Dale Jr.'s Crew Chief Won't Be Leaving originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Evernham Enjoying Life in Slow Lane

Holly Cain — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Jeff Gordon, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Crew Chiefs, Gillett-Evernham Motorsports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dressed casually in jeans and a black, button-down oxford, Ray Evernham leaned back into his chair and twirled the large gold ring on his right ring finger - the ring he received as crew chief for Jeff Gordon's 1999 Daytona 500 victory.

"I've got two of these Daytona 500 rings, but I can't get a parking pass," Evernham joked Wednesday from the infield of the Daytona International Speedway.

A decade ago he was celebrating in victory lane. A year ago he was on the pit box guiding another young driver, Kasey Kahne, to a top-10 finish in the Daytona 500. This week, he had to borrow a parking pass from fellow ESPN television analyst Rusty Wallace.

"I thought to myself, this is full circle. ..."

And of his own careful doing.

In one of the first lengthy sit-down, ease-back interviews the former champion crew chief touched on a number of topics -- from his relationship with Gordon to his pursuit of a land speed record with drag racing star Doug Herbert to his happiness post-ownership.

Anyone that knows Evernham would be struck by his laid-back manner -- a stark contrast to the high-energy, uber-control days of leading Gordon's famous "Rainbow Warriors" team to three championships or his pursuit of another for himself as team owner from 2001-2008.

Evernham didn't rule out working with Gordon or Rick Hendrick again in the distant future, but says he has no interest in working as a Cup crew chief ever again.

"Never going to happen," Evernham said. "That would be like asking John Elway, as bad as he probably wants to play football, would he come back and quarterback? You just can't do it.

"That was a different time. The job is different now. I'm a different person. It would take me two or three years to learn it all over again and I'm too old for that."

Evernham currently owns a small minority stake in Richard Petty Motorsports -- which used to be Gillett Evernham Motorsports -- which was originally Evernham Motorsports -- the Cup team he started in 2001 to usher in Dodge's return to the sport.

He has an exclusivity agreement with the Petty team as their NASCAR consultant and minority owner.

His heart is also in another project. He's currently trying to come up with $20 million in funding to help Herbert in a quest for a land speed record -- a feat dedicated to Herbert's two sons who were killed in a car accident a year ago.

"The physics of making a car go fast are the same," Evernham said. "It's aerodynamics, horsepower, traction, power to weight. The engineering -- it's good. I've been involved in some projects lately that have got my engineering brain working again and it's good. It's refreshing.

Latest NASCAR Photos

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: David Ragan, driver of the #6 UPS Ford, spins into a gravel pit during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** David Ragan

Getty Images for NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: A view of cars racing during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Getty Images for NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, races Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Dale Earnhardt Jr.;Kyle Busch

Getty Images for NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Crew members work on the #82 Red Bull Toyota, driven by Scott Speed, in the garage are during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Scott Speed

Getty Images for NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Crew members work on the #18 M&M's Toyota, driven by Kyle Busch, on pit road during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch

Getty Images for NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Crew members work on the #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet, driven by Kevin Harvick, on pit road during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kevin Harvick

Getty Images for NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, sits in his car on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch

Getty Images for NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Brian Vickers, driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, sits in his car on the grid prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Brian Vickers

Getty Images for NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Denny Hamlin (R), driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, talks with his crew chief Mike Ford on the grid prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Mike Ford;Denny Hamlin

Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR driver David Ragan talks with reporters as he leaves the infield care center after he was involved in an accident during the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009.(AP Photo/John Raoux)

"But I really want to take a little bit at a time and see exactly what I want to do before I commit 100 percent to anything. Right now I'm committed to ESPN, and I'm committed to helping Doug (Herbert) get that done."

Evernham was similarly candid and revealing on other topics, including:

Relinquishing majority ownership of his team:
"There's no doubt . ... I gave everything I had. There was nothing left. If you really are a championship-caliber athlete you have to have that killer desire, that fire. When you see you don't have that, then the best thing you can do is walk away, otherwise you're just making excuses as to why you're not winning."

On his relationship with former boss Rick Hendrick and with Gordon:
"I don't know where that will go, but Rick and I have stayed close and Jeff and I have stayed close."

On Gordon:
"I'd really like to see Jeff end his career on a high note because I will tell you, it really sucks for him when people start to question if he has the desire, does he have this, does he have that. He is this close (holding his fingers together).

"Jeff Gordon will definitely win races. If it were the old points system I'd guarantee you he'd win another championship. But with the Chase it's just too hard to predict."

On why he sold his team:
"I can't say something turned me off to it.

"The sport changed. You either change with it or do something else. I love racing and I was very fortunate to do what I did as an owner, but quite honestly the handwriting was on the wall. I was not going to lead that thing to a championship."

On current state of mind:
"After a while you have to decide how competitive you want to be. So I'd rather kick back, design cars, help people, not have to be fighting all the time.

"I feel like I can contribute now without being competitive."

Evernham Enjoying Life in Slow Lane originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Gibbs' In-House Penalites Reflect Quite Well

Geoffrey Miller — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:18:00 EST

Filed under: Toyota, Crew Chiefs, Nationwide Series, Joe Gibbs Racing

For once, NASCAR seems to have stepped up to the plate in regards to issuing penalties for cheating in the sport.

As you know, Wednesday brought the news from NASCAR of the stiff backhand that the sanctioning body inflicted on the team members of Joe Gibbs Racing's two Nationwide Series teams who were caught cheating last Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.

The penalties included indefinite suspensions for both crew chiefs of the No. 18 and No. 20 cars (Jason Ratcliff and Dave Rogers) as well as five other team members involved in the illicit tampering of the post-race competition testing analysis NASCAR performed Saturday. The term "indefinite" -- to the best of my knowledge -- has never been used by NASCAR for a performance-related suspension.

Point deductions to the tune of 150 driver and owner points for the cars driven by Tony Stewart and Joey Logano were also inflicted, as well as monetary fines to the crew chiefs.

The biggest impact, I think, comes from what the Joe Gibbs Racing team has done about the matter. They've already confirmed that the team members in question will be suspended for at least the remainder of the season and that they will each face internal fines from the company that will be paid directly from their pocket.

The in-house suspensions will be especially critical to the crew chiefs Ratcliff and Rogers because of how much they've improved their stock in 2008 as potential Sprint Cup crew chiefs. Now, these two guys will be sitting at home while their teams compete for wins and championships, leaving them out of the loop and out of the chance to show off their pit box talents.

I would have expected that Rogers would have an offer to be a Sprint Cup crew chief in 2009, but with these violations, his stock has dropped and you can bet darn well that the meeting between the now-suspended crew chiefs after the incident with team owner Joe Gibbs and team president J.D. Gibbs wasn't exactly a back-slapping session.

Can you imagine how sick those guys feel this week? Just like that, their chances at promotion and moving up in NASCAR took a big, big hit.

Generally, a team is not only denying when it has cheated, but it also pays for the penalized crew member's infraction instead of shifting some of that focus on the personal finances of its employees -- both of which have shown how seriously JGR is taking this.

Of course, failing to take this seriously and failing to act on the misdeeds of your employees certainly would allow the rumor mill of what happened on Saturday at Michigan just to increase ten-fold as fans and other teams look at the team as a whole -- from the Nationwide operations to the Sprint Cup operation -- as just big team of cheaters that haven't gotten caught yet.

Instead, JGR was smart. They not only told their team that cheating would not be tolerated in any regards, but they also sent a message to the NASCAR world that cheating is not going to take place under the confines of the JGR banner.

It was simply damage control at its finest, and JGR executed it quite well.

Gibbs' In-House Penalites Reflect Quite Well originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Live From Lowe's: Earnhardt, Gordon Manage Great Finishes On Mediocre Night

Geoffrey Miller — Mon, 26 May 2008 00:35:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports, Crew Chiefs, Pit Crews, Sprint Cup, International Speedway Corp.

Geoffrey Miller is in Concord, N.C. for Sunday's Sprint Cup Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He'll aim to eat as many elephant ears as possible while blogging away "Live from Lowe's" throughout Memorial Day weekend.

Jeff Gordon may have had a car capable of running in the Top-10, but he simply didn't have the track position.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the car to beat until lap 296 when he blew a tire and slapped the wall -- while leading.

Somehow, though, the two Hendrick Motorsports teammates ended up fourth (Gordon) and fifth (Earnhardt Jr.) in the final standings of Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600.

Earnhardt Jr. truly had a car that was one of the top two or three in the entire field, and he likely had the best car as the race was set to begin its final 100 laps of the scheduled 400. Then, his right rear tire went flat as he prepared to lap Hendrick teammate Gordon while entering turn 3 on lap 296, and the No. 88 veered into the wall.

Luckily, Earnhardt had been using the high lane all evening so the impact wasn't as severe as it could have been. The team brought him to pit road many times under the subsequent caution, threw some new rubber on it, pulled out the fenders, and double-checked the suspension.

Junior rejoined the race around 20th, but the car just wasn't the same.

That's where his path aligned with that of Jeff Gordon's team and how to maximize their final finish.

Gordon struggled all night long to get track position -- as did everyone on the track. When he was the first car a lap down after a restart, Gordon fell to the third car in line and rode there for much of the run, but when the next caution came out, he was back on the lead lap but mired behind 30-40 lead lap and lapped cars.

When it became obvious late in the event that if Gordon stayed the course he'd end up 20th or worse, crew chief Steve Letarte gambled.

Letarte first tried for track position by taking gas only with over 70 laps to go, but with 62 laps left under another caution, Gordon came back in for tires and a full tank of fuel that was to last him for the rest of the race. Earnhardt Jr. followed a similar strategy.

The two then conserved fuel for much of the final run -- so much so that eventual winner Kasey Kahne nearly lapped them and then passed them again after making his stop late in the event.

When the checkered flag dropped though, Gordon scooted across the line in fourth and Earnhardt Jr. fifth.

Gordon's crew chief Letarte summed up the effort by both teams very well after the event over the No. 24 radio by saying "At the end of the year, they don't care how you get the points".

Indeed, a finish in the Top-5 for the two instead of running mid-pack is good in the standings, but also for the confidence of both teams and drivers heading into the summer season stretch.

Live From Lowe's: Earnhardt, Gordon Manage Great Finishes On Mediocre Night originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 26 May 2008 00:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Hendrick's Meendering Heads to Petty

Geoffrey Miller — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:23:00 EST

Filed under: Bobby Labonte, Crew Chiefs, Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Silly Season, Kyle Petty, Petty Enterprises

Be sure to let voice be heard at the FanHouse NASCAR FanVote.

Petty Enterprises picked up a new crew chief this week.

Jeff Meendering, a now-former employee of Hendrick Motorsports, will take over the top of the pit box for former Cup champion Bobby Labonte, effective immediately.

Meendering served as Jeff Gordon's crew chief during the six-race stretch over the summer that normal crew chief Steve Letarte was suspended for infractions at Infineon Raceway. During that stretch, Gordon was winless but still picked up 4 Top-5s and didn't finish outside of the Top-10.

A relationship with Robbie Loomis, Gordon's previous crew chief and now vice-president of race operations at PE, helped Meendering land the job.

"Robbie Loomis gave me the opportunity to join the No. 24 team in 2001 and I learned from him, and Steve Letarte, how to prepare and execute at the track," said Meendering.

In 2007, Labonte's No. 43 Dodges finished 18th in points with no Top-5s and just 3 Top-10s. Labonte hasn't won a Nextel Cup event since Homestead in 2003 with his former team, Joe Gibbs Racing.

Petty Enterprises has suffered through a long winless streak as well. Their last win was in 1999 with John Andretti at Martinsville. However, Labonte's 17th-place finish in the final Nextel Cup Standings was the highest for any Petty Enterprises team since 1999.

Hendrick's Meendering Heads to Petty originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kenseth Will Have New Crew Chief in 2008

Geoffrey Miller — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Matt Kenseth, Roush Fenway Racing, Crew Chiefs, NASCAR Rumors, Nextel Cup, NASCAR Silly Season, Chase for the Sprint Cup

CONFIRMED: Roush-Fenway Racing officially announced Thursday morning that Robbie Reiser would assume role of General Manager at Roush-Fenway after the conclusion of Sunday's Ford 400.

Read the full release here.

ORIGINAL: Matt Kenseth might not be hearing Robbie Reiser's voice in his ear anymore after Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, according to ESPN.com's David Newton:

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Robbie Reiser, who has been Matt Kenseth's crew chief since they entered NASCAR's premier series in 2000 and long before that in the Busch Series, will become the general manager at Roush Fenway Racing.

He will replace Max Jones, who will move into the GM role at Robert Yates Racing. RYR and Roush recently formed an alliance that basically will allow them to work as a seven-car operation without violating NASCAR's four-car cap.

If indeed it happens, this will be the first time in Kenseth's NASCAR career that Reiser wasn't calling the shots for him. Together, Kenseth and Reiser have landed one Cup championship in 2003 and 15 race wins since Kenseth ran his first full season in 2000.

Reiser thought about leaving the top of the pit box in 2006 to take the job he has apparently now landed, but that role instead went to Jones. Reiser has coveted that spot since losing his father a few years ago.

"You look at things that you do in the long term," he said Reiser. "Family becomes more important. ... My dad spent a lot of time with my kids. When he isn't around anymore somebody has to fill that void."

Currently, Kenseth sits 6th in the Chase for the Nextel Cup with one win, 12 Top-5s, and 21 Top-10s in 2007. Kenseth is one of two drivers that have made every Chase for the Nextel Cup since its inception in 2004.

If this indeed does pan out, it'll be interesting to see who Roush-Fenway racing taps to fill that position on top of the No. 17 pit box -- especially because the driver isn't used to anyone else except Reiser in his ear during a race.

Kenseth Will Have New Crew Chief in 2008 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Cup Watergate: Sunoco Fuel Gone Bad?

Geoffrey Miller — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:11:00 EST

Filed under: Crew Chiefs, Nextel Cup, Denny Hamlin

In the internal combustion process, water doesn't burn too well. Actually, it doesn't burn at all.

Denny Hamlin's Chevrolet engine tried to burn water Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and the result wasn't pretty. Martin Truex Jr. slammed into the No. 11 as it stalled leading the field to a restart, Kyle Busch spun through the grass, and Carl Edwards unbelievably jumped five spots on the start.

Hamlin's car didn't stumble because of a lack of Sunoco racing fuel in the tank, but rather a fuel pump filled with water that had somehow made it into the team's fuel canisters. When Hamlin hit the gas, the pump fired more water than gas, causing Hamlin's engine to sputter.

Dave Blaney and race-winner Jimmie Johnson also found trace amounts of water in their systems during post-race teardowns.

Only Hamlin and Blaney had significant performance problems as a result, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team suspects water caused Junior to fall back at the start of Sunday's race.

NASCAR apparently can't quite figure out where the water came from, mainly because it affected different manufacturers on different teams.Problems that supposedly won't happen again:

"We're very confident going forward to Texas and the rest of the year, there won't be any issues," NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said. "Sunoco will continue to monitor and perform all the testing procedures that they do at an event to insure the fact that the fuel is pure."

Darby once again dismissed any talk of sabotage.

"There's enough teams from enough different manufacturers, enough different contaminations, enough different everything - that if it was sabotage, it's got to be somebody who hates NASCAR racing across the board," Darby said.

You would think something like this would never happen in a major auto racing series -- especially with so much on the line at the end of a NASCAR season.

And Sunoco better make darn sure that what decides the season title isn't silly fuel problems.

Cup Watergate: Sunoco Fuel Gone Bad? originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Nationwide Series Gets New Car in 2009

Geoffrey Miller — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:18:00 EST

Filed under: Crew Chiefs, Busch Series, Car of Tomorrow

That didn't take long.

NASCAR confirmed Sunday morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway that they will switch to the new generation race car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The new car (I'm tired of calling it the Car of Tomorrow when its here today) will be raced full-time in the top NASCAR series next season.

"We're working on an '09 [Nationwide] car," Bodine said. "[Having it ready for] '09 is tentative. It's not set in stone but we're working on it. We've informed some of the Busch owners and we've got a prototype at the R&D center."

"There will be a different body style and different aerodynamic package," Bodine said. "We're working on all that stuff. We're just not there yet, still working through all that process.

Sporting several new safety features, a rear wing, and a front splitter, the next generation chassis and body style brought hope that NASCAR would finally apply some clarity and definition between the Sprint Cup Series and the Nationwide Series.

Instead, NASCAR will revert back to the old thinking of running two series that are hardly different, which will continue to lead to insane amounts of Cup regulars parading the Nationwide Series (formerly Busch).

The safety additions are without a doubt a good idea, but let's hope Bodine is right in that they will use a different body style and aerodynamics.

What happened to this fun idea?

Nationwide Series Gets New Car in 2009 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Knaus Unhappy with NASCAR Cookie Cutters

tallglassofmilk — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:53:00 EST

Filed under: Crew Chiefs, Nextel Cup, Talladega Superspeedway

Reports from Talladega indicate that Nextel Cup inspection for the ~~Cookie Cutter~~ UAW-Ford 500 went off without a hitch.

Points leading crew chief Chad Knaus indicates that is because NASCAR gives everybody wings, but doesn't let teams spread them and fly:

"They don't want somebody to think somebody has an advantage on them, which is kind of against the way the sport was built. Last I checked it was our job to build the best race car."

These are his comments after NASCAR passed out mandated "side plates and wickers" for the COT wings, evidently eliminating one of only two ways crew chiefs could adjust the already restricted air flow.

"They say those are supposed to be the tools they're going to give us to work with. Now they've taken those tools away and there is nothing to work with."

Apparently, there will be even less to work with by the time the drivers take the green flag. NASCAR is expected to suck even more life out of the cars by changing the restrictor plates, too, to slow super speed at the super speedway.

Not surprising. Nor is NASCAR's new motto:

We're NASCAR. Our half-baked ideas burn the competitors' buns.

Knaus Unhappy with NASCAR Cookie Cutters originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NASCAR's Low Tolerance Penalizes Edwards

tallglassofmilk — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:21:00 EST

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Crew Chiefs, Nextel Cup

As expected, Carl Edwards, winner of the Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover International Speedway last Sunday, has been penalized 25 driver championship points due to rule violations found in post-race inspection (too low):

"We have the misfortune of violating a rule which makes no sense," said Roush Fenway Racing president Geoff Smith. "It was promulgated to address restrictor-plate races, not downforce races. I say misfortune because we are being penalized for a violation that actually impaired the car's performance."

Um ... the car wasn't so impaired it couldn't drive to victory lane ... but I'd still agree it's a misfortune. The loss of points dropped Edwards from third to sixth in the standings, 28 points behind leader Jeff Gordon.

REVISED Standings - Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup

1. Jeff Gordon 5,340
2. Tony Stewart 5,338
3. Jimmie Johnson 5,336
4. Kyle Busch 5,330
5. Clint Bowyer 5,322
6. Carl Edwards 5,312 (previously 3rd)
7. Martin Truex Jr. 5,294
8. Jeff Burton 5,265
9. Kevin Harvick 5,225
10. Matt Kenseth 5,224
11. Kurt Busch 5,189
12. Denny Hamlin 5,182

The #99 was also docks 25 owner points and Edwards' crew chief, Bob Osborne, was assessed a $25,000 fine--and probation.

Why was this penalty less than other COT infractions? Because it was deemed an "unintentional" post-race infraction, not a deliberate manipulation of the COT. The 25-point penalty is on par with similar infractions earlier in the season by the #5 and #70 teams.

So, it wasn't deliberate ... just outside the allowed tolerance. And yet the crew chief was put on probation? Isn't that a little extra? I thought probation is supposed to deter the guys who deliberately break the rules from doing it again? What purpose does probation serve when the guy didn't deliberately do anything wrong?

NASCAR's Low Tolerance Penalizes Edwards originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

DEI/Ginn Next In Line at NASCAR Court

Geoffrey Miller — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:36:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Inc., Crew Chiefs, Ginn Racing

Now that we've got NASCAR, Sprint, and AT&T to settle their legal differences, it's only appropriate to get another going, right?

A few former employees of Ginn Racing think so. And good for them, too.

Former drivers Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin in addition to former Ginn crew chiefs Peter Sospenzo and Richard "Slugger" Labbe have filed suit claiming breach of contract because Ginn apparently hasn't paid what's due to them.

Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek have sued Ginn Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. for alleged breaches of their contracts, which included a base salary of $1.2 million apiece.

The separate suits, filed Sept. 7 in Cabarrus County, N.C., do not specify how much they have been paid or what they exactly are owed.

Ginn Racing and DEI joined forces prior to the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in July. Some folks in the garage area estimated anywhere from 70 to over 120 employees at Ginn were terminated in the merger that lacked in the merge department.

It was essentially a DEI takeover of all things Ginn.

Hopefully the rest of the employees who worked the nine to fivers out of the spotlight are taking action against Ginn as well.

They deserve so much better than an outside real estate mogul buying into NASCAR and failing to realize the massive responsibility of the sport.

DEI/Ginn Next In Line at NASCAR Court originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

NASCAR and Sprint Come to Their Senses and Other Friday Randomness

tallglassofmilk — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Crew Chiefs, NASCAR Sponsors

Sprint must have realized that AT&T's presence on one of the 43 cars in the Cup field wasn't going to put them out of business --at least for now.

AT&T logos are back on the car. But for a limited time only. After the end of the 2008 season, their logos will apparently no longer welcome. Wow. How generous of them, considering AT&A's contract with RCR goes through 2010.

After that, I recommend AT&T follow a Fanhouse reader's suggestion and have the following emblazoned on the deck lid:

"Call us. You know who we are."

Why Cheatin' Chad Rules
Because when Knaus cheats, everybody's like, "Damn, why didn't I think of that?" When others cheat, everybody's like "What a dumb a**."

He's Interesting, Deal With It
Recently I've been reading comments in the Fanhouse, my email and elsewhere that people are tired of hearing about Junior. Why does he dominate the news and blogs? Why is he consistently more talked about than the other drivers? And not just when he's not getting his way or not making the Chase, but all the time.

I can't believe this is even a question. Why? Well, besides the fact that he's the most popular driver and it stands to reason he'd be the most talked about, he's also arguably the most interesting and he does the most interesting things. Like this week when he made Brad Keselowski prove he was ready to get back in the race car this weekend by racing him on the go-kart track in his backyard. And like hosting Elvis movie night. And opening a night club. Want us to talk more about your favorite driver? Tell 'em to do something interesting ... like hang out with Paris Hilton. Ok, maybe not that, but you get the drift.

NASCAR and Sprint Come to Their Senses and Other Friday Randomness originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Junior Won't Drive the No. 8

Geoffrey Miller — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Crew Chiefs, NASCAR Fights, Nextel Cup, NASCAR Sponsors, The Word, Car of Tomorrow

Gather the kids, sound the alarms -- for Dale Earnhardt Jr. himself will not be piloting a car with a No. 8 emblazoned on the side in 2008.

Hendrick Motorsports announced Wednesday that Junior's new ride (yeah, we know it's a Chevrolet, and that's about it) won't be carrying the number that would seemingly never leave the driver.

"We've been working hard to secure the No. 8 for Dale Jr.'s car number next season," said Marshall Carlson, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. "Obviously, he has a tremendous history with that number, and we know how important it is to his fans. Unfortunately, we couldn't reach a point where the terms made sense, and now we have to move forward with other options.

"We appreciate the efforts of Max Siegel and his team (at Dale Earnhardt Inc.), and are excited about unveiling our plans for 2008 in the near future."

I guess this means that the folks campaigning to "Free the 8" -- because it's obviously the most important thing that people in society need to join behind, right? -- have not succeeded in their soon-to-be efforts to raid and destroy Dale Earnhardt Inc.Maybe, just maybe, those Junior crazies could focus on better things in NASCAR -- like, say, the racing itself?

Who's really going to care if Junior isn't in the No. 8 anymore? Sure, it'll hurt some in the pocketbook for souvenirs come 2008, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. will continue to be Dale Earnhardt Jr.

What more does the Junior Nation need? An assortment of tissues and a DEI engine that lasts for a race?

That's what we call progress.

Junior Won't Drive the No. 8 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kyle Petty Got Mad, Now Out for Michigan

Geoffrey Miller — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:15:00 EST

Filed under: Dodge, Crew Chiefs, NASCAR Fights, Nextel Cup, Car of Tomorrow

Kyle Petty got a little mad Sunday afternoon at Watkins Glen. And as a result, he won't be racing Sunday at Michigan.

The heir-apparent to any new driving opportunity at Petty Enterprises, Chad McCumbee will instead take over.

Petty had surgery Tuesday on a broken right hand suffered after an incident on course at lap 69.

It sounds like self-contact was to blame for the injury:

Kyle Petty, driver of the No. 45 Petty Enterprises Dodge suffered a broken hand as a result of hitting the butt of his right hand on a door inside the hauler after a lap 69 incident in Sunday's Centurion Boats at the Glen at Watkins Glen International road course.

[...] He flew back to his home in North Carolina, where he was treated by a doctor who determined that the hand was broken.

Maybe it was just a ploy to get McCumbee in the car again? After all, the kid did a fantastic job at the first Pocono race and Petty has had nothing but praise for the driver on his rotational role with PRN's Fast Talk.

Or, most likely, Petty got mad and had a little bit of anger built up because his car didn't perform at all Sunday and because he had to fire a crew chief.

He's scheduled to be back for the breeze of a race that is Bristol. Right.

Kyle Petty Got Mad, Now Out for Michigan originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Lowe's Testing Produces Good Call

Geoffrey Miller — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:42:00 EST

Filed under: Ryan Newman, Brian Vickers, Martin Truex Jr., Crew Chiefs, Lowes Motor Speedway, Nextel Cup, Pit Crews, David Ragan, Car of Tomorrow, NASCAR Tracks

NASCAR, Goodyear: It's about time.

Following testing earlier this week in toasty Carolina sun, Goodyear has said that a softer tire compound may make an appearance for the fall Nextel Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr., Brian Vickers, and David Ragan were the four drivers allowed for the tire test in the heat of the day.

Truex found the air temperature over 100 degrees and the cockpit temperature at over 140 degrees to be pretty difficult.

When asked about the hottest he's ever been in a race car, Truex Jr. responded,

"Probably today. I guess it's because the car is not set up to race and doesn't have all the heat shields and the insulation in it. Fifteen laps feel like 800 miles to me."

Luckily, the fall race won't likely be in the same heat as the Charlotte-region can cool tremendously at nighttime in the fall.
Goodyear and NASCAR have taken quite a bit of flack in recent years for their choice of the tire to be used at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Some drivers love the durability, but others complain that the tire is very unforgiving and nearly like driving on ice when new.

Testing in the heat may be a godsend in that the tires will wear much faster on a hot, slippery race track than a cool evening in October.

Three lead changes in the Nextel All-Star Challenge proved that the compound wasn't exactly working.

Lowe's Testing Produces Good Call originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Tuesday is Penalty Day and Other Bullsh*t

tallglassofmilk — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Joe Gibbs Racing, Crew Chiefs, Nextel Cup, Busch Series, J.J. Yeley

Stewart Spews Bullsh*t, Pays the Price
As expected (?), NASCAR announced today that Tony Stewart has been fined $25,000 and penalized 25 points for "actions detrimental to stock car racing."

His crime: using one of the seven dirty words on the air.

In his post-race interview, Stewart thanked the fans who support him week in and week out and putting up with the bullsh*t from all the other drivers' fans.

Even though ESPN, unlike TNT, was able to bleep the word out before it could cause irreparable damage to young fans' ears, Stewart will still be fined, as Dale Earnhardt Jr. was in 2004. The fine has gone up since then, but the points deduction was the same. Update: Apparently it wasn't bleeped out it all markets.

Stewart maintains his 5th place position in the standings and isn't too concerned about his punishment:

"Whatever happens, they still can't take this trophy away from me."

Note to NASCAR: If you really want to get drivers attention with penalties, start stripping them of their trophies and wins.

In addition, Stewart's car owner, Joe Gibbs, has been penalized 25 car owner championship points because of the infraction.

Biffle Skipped out on the Media
Greg Biffle has been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31, for "actions detrimental to stock car racing."

His crime: finishing 2nd in the Kroger 200 and the failing to fulfill his post-race media obligations Saturday night at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.

Unauthorized Parts
Also, two NASCAR Busch Series crew chiefs have been fined $5,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 due to violations at Indianapolis:

o. Chris Rice, crew chief on the No. 01 Chevrolet driven by Shelby Howard;
o. Chuck Meyers, crew chief on the No. 1 Chevrolet driven by J.J. Yeley.

During opening inspection, both crew chiefs were found in violation of Section 12-4-A, 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment not conforming to NASCAR rules) and Section 20A-5.9D(4) (unapproved intake manifold modifications to the plenum area).

Tuesday is Penalty Day and Other Bullsh*t originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Junior to Do the Dew and Other Silly Rumors

tallglassofmilk — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:37:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Earnhardt Inc., Crew Chiefs, NASCAR Rumors, Nextel Cup, Pit Crews, NASCAR Sponsors, Richard Childress Racing, Busch Series, NASCAR Silly Season

So Ginn Racing didn't close both the #13 and #14 Nextel Cup teams this week, just their Busch team, which amounted to roughly 30 people losing their jobs, save the spotter who was promoted to Cup. But, even though they haven't closed the books, Bobby Ginn seems to have made both team's numbers available on the open owner market, with the likelihood of selling the #13 to the highest bidder.

And what owner might be willing to buy its way into the top 35? Teresa Earnhardt is the leading runner. Paul Menard isn't going to be able to climb his way into the top 35 himself if he can't qualify for a race. DEI's got the cash to compensate. You put it together.

Speaking of DEI's cash ... Budweiser is ready move on next year, but not with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser is reportedly setting their sites on Kasey Kahne now. Score Ray Evernham!

That leaves Junior wide open to Do the Dew, which I think means he would also give up his personal appearances contract with Bud, which is good considering he'll need time for Sony and Adidas now. Wow. Junior really scored on the upgrade of free goods, huh? Also ... look for Junior to give the #14 team's displaced spotter, his buddy T.J. Majors, a shot on the #? Mountain Dew Chevrolet next season. Reminder: Free the #8!

What that means for Kellogg's I have no idea, but about the Kellogg's driver ...

A source tells me that Kyle Busch has already decided on Richard Childress Racing and is expected to take a lot of his crew with him. By a lot, I take it to mean his crew chief, Alan Gustafson (making room for Tony Eury Jr.), and whoever else wants to come along. Maybe the sponsor will follow, too.

Junior to Do the Dew and Other Silly Rumors originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Busch Cleared, NASCAR Can't Measure

Geoffrey Miller — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hendrick Motorsports, Crew Chiefs, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Nextel Cup, Busch Series, NASCAR Silly Season

Kyle Busch rightfully won Saturday morning's rain-postponed Busch Series race at Daytona.

NASCAR originally stated that Busch's Hendrick No. 5 car had failed inspection with illegal front spring tolerances. The sanctioning body then took the springs in question back to Charlotte to its Research & Development Center to double-check the measurements.

They came today with different findings.

Kyle Busch won Saturday's rain-delayed Busch race at Daytona Beach, Fla., but during post-race inspection NASCAR officials were unable to get an accurate reading on the car's front spring rate.

After re-measuring the car Monday, NASCAR officials said the car was found within tolerances and passed the inspection process.

That just makes you feel satisfied with NASCAR's inspection process, huh?

What determination does NASCAR give to teams to who get a second look at things?

It would have been downright hilarious, though, had Busch been penalized for three races (Busch, Cup, & PASS) in less than a week.

Busch Cleared, NASCAR Can't Measure originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Busch's Race-Winning Car Fails Inspection

tallglassofmilk — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Hendrick Motorsports, Crew Chiefs, Busch Series

I did say it was too early to tell and I just might have spoken too soon when I said Kyle Busch's team didn't have to cheat to win.

The #5 Delphi Chevrolet has failed post-race inspection:

NASCAR has taken the front springs from the car, NASCAR spokeswoman Tracy Judd said. NASCAR rules require the left-front spring rate to be no less than 800 pounds, and the right-front no less than 1500 pounds. The car exceeded both of those spring rates but was within the 3,000-pound total spring rate, Judd said.

Penalties, if any, will be announced next week. It's highly doubtful they would include stripping him of his win, which is unfortunate because I would find that positively hilarious.

I'm not saying he did cheat, I'm just saying ... After all, others witnessed his cheating in last week's PASS North race.

And let's not forget that his win today came in a Hendrick Motorsports car, shall we?

Busch's Race-Winning Car Fails Inspection originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 07 Jul 2007 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Daytona 500: Coming to a Fall Near You?

Geoffrey Miller — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Crew Chiefs, Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Rumors, Nextel Cup

It seems straight up crazy.

OK, OK, it seems straight up stupid.

According to Capt. Thunder, the Daytona 500 could end up being the real "Super Bowl of NASCAR".

"This week, sources within NASCAR told me there has been closed door discussions to move the date of the Daytona 500, to November.

Apparently, NASCAR is intrigued by the idea of switching the dates of the season ending Homestead race with the season opening Daytona 500.

The allure of ending the NASCAR season and crowning a new Nextel Cup champion at the sports biggest race is something the France family is strongly considering."

Now, before the dirty bombs and razor blades get thrown at NASCAR and ISC, realize that this is just a rumor at this point.
Personally, I don't really know a darn thing about the source of this, and for all we know, it could be a guy tryng to grab some viewers. Or, NASCAR could sacrifice the only way their fans fully heal after an offseason -- with Speedweeks.

How exactly does one run a Daytona 500 without qualifying races and the surrounding hoopla? I don't think you can.

If NASCAR did make the change, and notice the big if, I'd say the move is intelligent business wise, terrible tradition wise, and fantastic for further growth of the premise of the series.

You gotta admit, seeing a finish even close to that exciting as the one in this year's Daytona 500, would draw in a ton of NASCAR fans who finally broke though. One thing must stay certain though -- Speedweeks in its entirety.

Daytona 500: Coming to a Fall Near You? originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sat, 07 Jul 2007 09:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments