Motorsports FanHouse

Wheel2Wheel: Johnson Goes for 4

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:19:00 EST

Filed under: Jimmie Johnson, Sprint Cup, Wheel2Wheel

Based on the last three seasons, Jimmie Johnson has to be a favorite to win his fourth consecutive Sprint Cup title. The NASCAR world gets the championship fight under way this weekend in New Hampshire with the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup with 11 other drivers fighting to knock off the No. 48.

Can they do it? FanHouse writers Holly Cain and Geoffrey Miller chime in on that and plenty more as they go Wheel2Wheel about Jimmie Johnson:

Will Jimmie Johnson make it four championships in-a-row?

Geoffrey Miller: If you would have asked me, oh, four weeks ago the answer would be a resounding yes. But since Johnson took over and won at Indianapolis, he hasn't exactly lit up the Sprint Cup Series. There's been no Johnson just flat knocking 'em dead with top-fives and wins, and instead we've seen some chinks in the armor of the No. 48.

At Atlanta, the No. 48 looked out to lunch before a few adjustments brought the car back around. A dose of bad luck with a broken axle took them out of contention. Last week at Richmond, though, should have been a little more telling on what we'll see from Johnson to start the Chase, and the news wasn't good. The No. 48 wasn't a factor and left feeling quite frustrated from a race track that many drivers say has direct parallels to success at New Hampshire.

Johnson has made a habit of being exceptionally consistent in the Chase and being smartly aggressive to win more races in Chase competition than anyone to earn those three straight titles. I don't see the same pattern happening this season, meaning title No. 4 is out of reach in 2009.

Holly Cain: While Tony Stewart has put together an astounding debut as an owner/driver, I still think this championship is Johnson's to lose. The experience of his team will be the difference here. They've worked together under the Chase pressure before and more importantly, succeeded. Time after time after time.

This team is not approaching this as though they are trying to win a fourth straight, they look at it as they are trying to win the 2009 championship, wisely off-setting the pressure of this historical accomplishment.

Johnson is the most underrated three-time champion in NASCAR history and deserves more credit as a driver. Yes, he is one of the sport's true "nice guys", but he's also aggressive when he needs to be and smart. There have been times in past Chase races where Johnson could have settled for a good points day. Instead he dug in and battled for a win racing his teammates just as hard as he does Kurt Busch. And he always finds a way to step up his game when it matters most. His eight victories in the 30 previous Chase races is the class of the field. As is Johnson.

Can we consider Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus to be the best driver-crew chief combination in the sport's history?

HC: Statistically, that goes to Dale Inman who was with Richard Petty for seven championships and 198 wins. Again, the argument centers on the demands of different eras.

The sophistication of today's cars combined with the multi-million dollar budgets has made this a whole new game. The fact that Knaus and Johnson have been together for eight seasons in a climate of run-for-the-buck and instant gratification is noteworthy in itself. They are the only combination to win three straight titles together (Yarborough didn't have same crew chief for his three championship runs).

And no duo since Petty and Inman have pulled off four titles given the increased demands and challenges of modern day NASCAR.

GM: There's been a ton of great crew chiefs and even more great drivers in the sport, and occasionally those combinations have melded together into a tremendous bond. But let's be real for a minute. NASCAR is at its most competitive point that it has ever been in. There's never been an era where 15 to 20 teams have a legitimate chance to win every weekend, and yet, the No. 48 became just the second car to ever win three championships in a row.

NASCAR is a game about the driver, but its also much more than just the driver. Because of that, Knaus deserves a lot of credit for creating a race car that wins and continuing a team culture that emphasizes perfection.

Sure, there's been some duos -- the Evernham-Gordon one comes to mind, but the staying power wasn't there -- that have been potent, but none have come at this incredibly competitive time in Sprint Cup history. That's what makes this duo the best ever.

Would winning four straight titles secure Johnson's position as one of the best all-time?

GM: It's always tough to gauge where a current athlete will fit in with the legendary names of old, and how their statistics stack up. Obviously Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are two of the NFL's best quarterbacks right now, but what's an adequate judge of how well they would have fared against the likes of Joe Montana or Bart Starr?

NASCAR racing is no different thanks to different eras of drivers, cars and competition. Johnson certainly should be regarded as one of the all-time greats for the stats he's put up in such a short period of time.

But one thing Johnson has against him is the fact that the Chase format was introduced when he started to hit his stride.

Johnson never won a championship in the season-long accrual format, and his three titles would have pared to just one without the Chase. In 2008, Carl Edwards earned enough points to top Johnson by 16 points if the traditional format was used. Jeff Gordon would have waltzed to a title by 353 points in 2007 while Johnson would have narrowly beat Matt Kenseth in 2006 by 4 points.

HC: In most simple terms, yes. By definition, if Johnson wins a historic fourth consecutive championship he will have dominated in a way no other driver has before.

The argument here is whether you can compare Johnson's four titles under NASCAR's Chase for the Championship format against those of past multi-winners. Yes you can, but it's irrelevant. Johnson has no control over the format. He won the titles with the rules he was given.

Each era provided a unique set of challenges, with each champion equally deserving. Richard Petty, for instance, won the first of his seven titles in 1971, when there were 48 races and the vast majority on one type of track - short track. In his 1974 title year, the competition was such that there were only five race winners and Petty won a third of the races.

When Cale Yarborough won his three straight titles from 1976-78, 54 percent of the races were won by only two drivers - Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip. What does that say about the competition?

Dale Earnhardt won his seven titles when the seasons averaged only 29 races. How would it have affected things if he had to sustain that title run for 36 races and have the points re-set in a 10-race playoff?

Who knows how Johnson would have fared under a 50-race schedule or how Petty would do with today's cars and depth of competition. But Johnson absolutely belongs in the company of Petty, Earnhardt, Yarborough, Waltrip and Gordon.

Wheel2Wheel: Johnson Goes for 4 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheel2Wheel: Indy, Danica & 600

Geoffrey Miller — Sun, 24 May 2009 09:52:00 EST

Filed under: Sprint Cup, Wheel2Wheel, IRL

FH writers Holly Cain and Geoffrey Miller are taking part in both major American races this weekend. Here, they go Wheel2Wheel on some major issues facing each sport.

There's been lots of talk about Danica Patrick this week moving to NASCAR. We'll ask again: is this for real?

Holly Cain: While Danica is clearly enjoying her flirtation with NASCAR, I don't think it's a real option - yet as much as a bargaining ploy to land a good IndyCar ride.

Geoffrey Miller: I couldn't agree more, though a move by her would be a tremendous short-term gain for NASCAR in terms of a new character in the garage.

HC: I think she would be better received by NASCAR after she proves herself in open-wheel. Stock cars have proven to be a difficult transition for IndyCar and Formula One champs and Patrick isn't in that league yet.

A move to NASCAR now would be perceived as a marketing ploy and that's not the best circumstance for Patrick, who wants to be taken seriously as a race car driver.

GM: Danica has caught a bunch of flack for her on-track conflicts and her off-track personal exploits, but that's all ground that comes with a sudden shot to stardom. Does she have talent as a race car driver? You bet. Is she ready to handle a 3,200 lb stock car without any previous experience? Certainly not.

Pay attention, I believe, to who's been bringing this NASCAR business up -- and its not the most-loved or most-hated (depending on how you view here) driver in IndyCar that is stirring up the ruckus.

NASCAR's rebuttal to the Indianapolis 500 is the longer Coca-Cola 600. Is that race too long?

GM: NASCAR's gotta do something to keep itself on the map during Memorial Day weekend, and the best way is to have the novelty of a 600-mile race and do it after the milk has been drank at Indy. 600 miles once a year is a fun thing, and talk of shortening it is just a lame attempt to cheapen the sport.

HC: Frankly, 500 miles at Pocono or Dover feels even longer. I understand need for a unique race format - especially going up against the Indy 500, but generally speaking I think NASCAR should hold shorter races at some venues.

Finally, has the Indianapolis 500 regained some its lost luster since the reuinifcation of the two open-wheel series? What more can be done?

HC: At this point, talk of the open-wheel split is out-dated and irrelevant. The Indy 500 is the biggest race in America, with pagentry and tradition, the largest audience of any sporting event and this year, the closest starting field in history. A larger entry field would be a nice improvement and give more meaning to the four-day qualifying format.

GM: Indianapolis is still Indianapolis, though it seems the tremendous stories that make IMS track historian Donald Davidson so busy during the month of May have dissipated. A lot of the pomp and circumstance around the race seems to be there nowadays just because lots of people say its there. That's not to say, though, that nearly every major sporting event feels like the hype machine went on overdrive for it these days.

Wheel2Wheel: Indy, Danica & 600 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 24 May 2009 09:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheel2Wheel: The 'New' Southern 500

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Kyle Busch, Sprint Cup, Wheel2Wheel

Jump in as FanHouse's Holly Cain and Geoffrey Miller go Wheel2Wheel about Darlington, Kyle Busch's audacious goals and the oh-so-lovable Goodyear.

Does NASCAR need more tracks with unusual character like Darlington and what do you think about re-naming the spring event the "Southern 500"?

Geoffrey Miller: Frankly, I'm a little confused. It's not Labor Day weekend, tropical storms aren't brewing off the South Carolina coast and the heat index in Darlington this weekend won't be anywhere near triple digits. Why then, in the name of Richard Petty, is it time for the Southern 500?

I get what the track is doing here by trying to pick back up the pieces of a tradition so mercilessly and so stupidly ripped apart a few years back when NASCAR decided the empty grandstands of Auto Club Speedway fit the sport better than the small rough-and-tumble Darlington Raceway. But let's not call a spoon a spork here (because, of course, the spork is the most ideal of food instruments) by saying this Mother's Day weekend race is the Southern 500. It's not -- it's a 500-mile race at Darlington.

And of course, track diversity is something NASCAR badly needs more of especially afer we've watched just how well the Car of Tomorrow platform handles behind other cars at the 1.5-mile cookie-cutter downforce tracks.

Holly Cain: Even in this sponsor-driven times, there are certain events that should retain their original names - the sentimental value over-riding the corporate flash-and-bang. The Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 (now the AllState 400) and Southern 500 lead that list. Something about the "Heinz Southen 500 (1989-91) or the Dodge Charger 500 (2005-2007) just never seemed right.

For the good (and the bad), Darlington has always embodied this sport's roots and it's a grounding force for the sport, which has expanded on steriod speed. In my opinion there are way too many 1.5-mile easy-drive palaces. Darlington provides the drivers a challenge and it's more entertaining to me to see them figure out a not so perfect track. They may be not love the track or the throw-back facility, but a driver can - and always does - feel pretty darn proud if he can score a win here.

Kyle Busch has a goal of 200 wins in NASCAR among all three series for his career. He's at 50 now. What kind of shot does he have and what has made him so dominant?

HC: If Busch were able to keep up his current pace of winning (one of every four starts since 2008) then his goal is reachable. But that's no easy pace. He spoke this week of becoming the all-time winner in both the Nationwide and Truck series and those are reasonable feats for him, especially considering he just 24 last weekend. But will his focus narrow as he begins to contend for a Cup championship. ... or two or three. Will Joe Gibbs want him competing all over the place or concentrating on the big picture? We'll have to see how Busch handles the playoff stretch, the only element of his game that he hasn't mastered yet.

As for his dominance, I think it is a mixture of exceptional talent and a charmed job history. It always helps that talent when you're steering a Hendrick or Gibbs car. Yes, it has been helpful he's driving a Toyota just when that make "figured it out," but the bottom line is Busch is naturally talented, agressive, in good equipment and shown the ability to take others off their game.

GM: Have you seen this kid drive in, oh, the last two seasons? Better yet, remember when his lack of patience saw his old No. 5 car up front a lot with Hendrick Motorsports before crashes or other problems took him out? Honestly, 150 more wins for Busch is a ton in NASCAR's three divisions, but at his current clip it's hard to think he'll be stopped.

The dude wins in everything he sits in, from his Joe Gibbs Sprint Cup and Nationwide cars to James Finch's Camping World Truck Series duties and everything in between. He's fearless on the track, and drivers -- like Jimmie Johnson, especially -- haven't figured out how to stop Busch's Ron Hornaday-esque restart tactics.

The biggest key to Kyle Busch's performance? He's fearless with the setups he's given and knows that he can make them stick. That's pretty darn untouchable.

Is Goodyear ready for the NASCAR race at Indianapolis?

GM: At the moment, I think Goodyear is ready for a race at Indianapolis that would last 5 or 6 more laps per run than last year's 10-12 lap tire chewing debacle. They've obviously had issues with compounds, and that hastily rescheduled test last week at the track (it wasn't originally planned until problems kept happening the week before combined with rain made track time hard to come by) showed that the tire supplier is getting to near scramble mode.

I will give them the benefit of the doubt in that their testing was done on a very green race track (Indianapolis has received 7 inches of rainfall above normal in April) without the rubber worked in from tens of thousands of laps turned during the Indianapolis 500. It's not panic time yet nor time to clearance the Brickyard tickets on Craigslist, but if things don't improve after the test in June with nearly 15 cars, we'll start to worry.

The biggest consolation for me on the matter? You know darn well everyone involved is doing all they can to avoid a repeat of 2008 -- even if that means extreme, last-minute measures.

HC: In a word, "no." After an embarrassing debacle in last year's race and six test sessions since, it seems to me Goodyear would have been better prepared. But two months out, there are still legitimate questions. Yes, the last test indicated the tires can go more laps than they did in last year's race, which had a competition caution about every 12 laps. But they still are not up to full fuel runs and that is the reasonable threshold.

Goodyear and NASCAR should have a large enough group of cars testing - with veteran drivers - to get good feedback, not these small parties of four and five. It makes sense to go back after the Indy 500 because the track will change, but when Goodyear leaves from its final test - the drivers shouldn't have any doubts. And neither should the people expecting to watch a real race

Wheel2Wheel: The 'New' Southern 500 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 08 May 2009 10:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheel2Wheel: From 'Dega to Richmond

Geoffrey Miller — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sprint Cup, Wheel2Wheel

Jump in as FanHouse writers Holly Cain and Geoffrey Miller try to put a cap on the weekend that was Talladega and look ahead to the always exciting spring race in Richmond with a little thing we like to call Wheel2Wheel.

NASCAR Feuds

While Carl Edwards' wreck stole the show at Talladega, two of NASCAR's biggest stars will be thrust into the spotlight Saturday. Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. traded paint at both of last year's Richmond races. Click through to see their two dustups and other top feuds.

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Race: Crown Royal presents Dan Lowry 400 Date: May 3, 2008
Feud: Kyle Busch spins out leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. with three laps to go.
Memorable Quote: Kyle Busch: "The deal with Jr. ... man, it was racing."

Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

Race: Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Date: Sept. 7, 2008
Feud: Dale Earnhardt spins out leader Kyle Busch on lap 212.
Memorable Quote: Dale Jr.: "I really ain

Shawn Chamberlin, AP

Race: Subway Fresh Fit 500
Feud: Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed with 11 laps to go after he and Casey Mears made contact. Earnhardt then spun Mears on the cool-down lap and Mears retaliated by bumping into the back of Earnhardt's car on pit road.
Memorable Quote: Mears: "I guess he was a little bent out of shape about it, because he spun me out after the checkered flag."

LEFT: Jim McIsaac, Getty Images RIGHT: Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Race: Subway Fresh Fit 500
Feud: Robby Gordon, left, gets upset with Michael Waltrip after contact with Waltrip's No. 55 Toyota sends Gordon into the Phoenix International Speedway wall.
Memorable Quote: Gordon: "I

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Race: Daytona 500
Feud: Dale Earnhardt Jr's clip of Brian Vickers triggers a 9-car accident
Memorable Quote: Earnhardt: "What the hell am I supposed to do? ... If he wasn't so damn reckless, we would have never had that problem."

Getty Images (2)

Race: Gatorade Duel 150 Date: Feb. 12, 2009
Feud: Ryan Newman wrecked by David Reutimann
Memorable Quote: Newman: "Reutimann is a good name for him -- because he rooted a man right out of there and sent me up into the wall."

Steve Johnson, Orlando Sentinel / MCT

Race: Amp Energy 500 Date: Oct. 7, 2008
Feud: Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick clash four days after race
Memorable Quote: Harvick after race: "I know that [Edwards'] fans won't be very proud of him sitting back there riding around like a pansy."

Race: CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 (Nationwide) Date: May 24, 2008
Feud: Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski mix it up under a caution
Memorable Quote: Hamlin: "If he throws a rock, I'll throw a concrete block back."

Jason Smith, Getty Images

Race: Food City 500 Date: March 17, 2008
Feud: Kevin Harvick wrecks Tony Stewart with two laps left
Memorable Quote: Stewart: "I thought I left him plenty of room. I was far enough ahead of him that I didn't see where he hit me or when he hit me. But I'm sure, somehow, it's my fault."

Jason Smith, Getty Images

Q: What was your first reaction to all of the events and drama that Talladega produced this weekend?

Holly Cain: The accident began only a few yards below my seat in the Talladega press box. At most tracks, the press box is an elevator-ride atop the grandstands, but at Talladega it sits only about 15 rows up.

The last lap was sensory-overload, but that's what you expect at Talladega.

It was exciting to watch Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards making that last lap run after not being factors all day. Frankly, I had been prepared to write about Dale Earnhardt Jr. getting his first win of the year or Ryan Newman getting the first for Stewart-Haas.

Then came the huge boom of impact, followed by the sickening, helpless feeling of watching Edwards' car spin and fly out of control. I knew someone was hurt, it was just a question of whether it was Edwards or the fans - or both.

When Edwards emerged there was a huge sigh of relief, but watching the replays it was clear, some fans wouldn't be nearly as lucky. Immediately, your heart goes out to them.

Geoffrey Miller: I actually was playing in a softball game during the second part of the race, but had the DVR runnin' hot to catch the finish. I knew something was up when I had multiple phone calls and text messages absolutely amazed at the finish -- saying things like "OMG!" -- and they didn't let me down.

I caught the finish about 30 minutes after it had happened and couldn't have had my jaw drop lower. Brad freakin' Keselowski was headed to victory lane and Carl Edwards had one of the most spectacular crashes in the sport's history, but I was just worried sick about the fans sitting on the other side of the grandstands. Points and finishing order just weren't important at that point and I thought NASCAR was razor-blade close to a major calamity.

Terrifying Finish at Talladega

A push for victory takes a disastrous turn for Carl Edwards at Talladega Superspeedway. Contact from race winner Brad Keselowski on the final lap sends Edwards into a tailspin before he's lifted into the air by Ryan Newman (39). Click through to see more photos from Sunday's incredible race.

Rainier Ehrhardt, AP

Edwards' car went airborne and into the safety fence, scattering debris into the crowd and injuring multiple fans. "I'm glad the car didn't go up in the grandstands," he said. "I don't know if I could live with myself if I ended up in the grandstands."

Glenn Smith, AP

After landing back down on the track, Edwards had to climb out of his car as it sparked flames. "I just want to tell my mom, I'm OK," Edwards told the television audience. "I'm very fortunate."

Christian Petersen, Getty Image

Edwards was quick to put some blame on NASCAR's use of restrictor plates to combat the high speed of the two fastest tracks -- Talladega and Daytona. The plates keep cars packed together, and all it takes is one wrong move to trigger "The Big One," a nickname for the recurring pileups.

Jerry Markland, Getty Images

As Edwards was derailed on the final lap, Keselowski surged into the lead to win a Sprint Cup Series race for the very first time. Keselowski felt sorry for the fans who were hurt, but wasn't about to make excuses for his maneuver. "Holding your line was the way to do it," said Keselowski.

Christian Petersen, Getty Images

"Either way, it was a great show, and I hope the fans had fun with it," said Keselowski, seen here celebrating in Victory Lane. Restrictor-plate races are both loved by fans for the thrills they provide and dreaded by drivers who fear for their safety.

Rusty Jarrett,, Getty Images

Edwards' stunning flight wasn't the only major crash during the Aaron's 499. On the seventh lap, a 13-car accident caused havoc for top drivers like Mark Martin, far left, Kevin Harvick (29) and points leader Jeff Gordon (24).

Dale Davis, AP

NASCAR issued a strong warning before the race, telling the drivers to avoid aggressive driving. But that didn't prevent the mayhem from taking over Talladega again. "You expect it," said Gordon. "You just hope to survive it."

Russell Norris, AP

Like Edwards, Jeremy Mayfield also had to leave his burning vehicle after a wreck Sunday. There were four major accidents between the Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide race over the weekend.

Dale Davis, AP

Edwards, who crossed the finish line on foot, said that drivers fear these type of races. "NASCAR has put us in this box and we'll race like this until we kill someone and then they'll change it."

Christian Petersen, Getty Image

Q: Where does NASCAR go from here on everything -- restrictor plates, rules, spectator safety, etc.?

GM: There's been a lot of calls this week for various changes to both the race track and the race cars. To me, though, I think its solved a whole lot easier without even changing the on-track show, but also realizing that the safety of your paying audience should be goal No. 1.

Let's mandate the catchfences at each of NASCAR's tracks be to a conforming height (I like the 20+ feet tall and a 6+ feet overhang version at Lowe's Motor Speedway) near spectator areas and reinforce the heck out of them so they aren't just a guess if they'll hold an airborne car inside. Next, print up some huge tarps with paying sponsors on them and covering any seats within 20 yards of the fence and keep fans farther away from the danger. A variance in yellow-line rules on the front stetch during the last lap at Daytona and Talladega wouldn't hurt either.

HC: NASCAR is not one to react for the sake of reacting. Even in light of Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s fatal accident in the 2001 Daytona 500, it took days, weeks and ultimately months as NASCAR rolled out various safety improvement. I expect this to be no different.

If you change the track's banking or move the start-finish line you've changed the reason you like Talladega to begin with. Changing the yellow line rule - even on the last lap - will create more chaos than it solves. Think it is dicey staying above the line, imagine what it would be like (and was) when drivers know they can fudge four and five-wide at the checkers.

The most sensible solutions would be for NASCAR to require the catch fences be a uniform height at all venues - whatever engineers or officials determine a safe height. Secondly, at Talladega, if we know the speeds are now exceeding the safety limits of the restrictor plate, then change the plate. That's easy.

You can move the seats back or sell tickets beginning with the 50th row - but there is still going to be a front row. Spectator safety is absolutely just as important as driver safety, but there has to be a little bit of common sense here. If you chose to drive a race car for a living, you realize it's a risky profession. It's absolutely not acceptable for one person to get hurt, but if you chose to attend a race and sit close to the track, you know in the back of your mind, you're taking a chance.

The sudden national attention this wreck has received this week no longer surprises me, but I am still stunned how media that have never reported on the the sport, have never watched a race and who still dismiss NASCAR with a generation-old stereotype declare it "barbaric" or suddenly think they're experts on how to "fix" the sport. I fully trust that NASCAR will come up with a thoughtful, prudent solution. They must.

Latest NASCAR Images

RICHMOND, VA - MAY 01: David Gilliland, driver of the #71 American Monster Chevrolet, waits in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Gilliland

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RICHMOND, VA - MAY 01: Brian Vickers, driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, prepares to drive during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brian Vickers

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RICHMOND, VA - MAY 01: Casey Mears, driver of the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet, prepares to drive during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Casey Mears

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RICHMOND, VA - MAY 01: Scott Speed, driver of the #82 Red Bull Toyota, prepares to drive during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Scott Speed

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RICHMOND, VA - MAY 01: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, prepares to drive during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Martin Truex Jr.

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RICHMOND, VA - MAY 01: David Stremme, driver of the #12 Penske Dodge, prepares to drive during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Stremme

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RICHMOND, VA - MAY 01: Michael Waltrip, driver of the #55 NAPA Toyota, prepares to drive during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Waltrip

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RICHMOND, VA - MAY 01: Reed Sorenson, driver of the #43 McDonald's McCafe Dodge, prepares to drive during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Reed Sorenson

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Q: Brad Keselowski, who? What's this kid's realistic potential?

HC: Keselowski is considered by many in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage to be one of the better young talents. He earned the win Sunday. He was there at the end of the race, held his line and refused to be intimidated by a veteran - traits another much more over-hyped young driver could stand to employ.

GM: The first time we really heard of this guy was his scary, fireball wreck out in California but since then, he's started to come in to his own in the NASCAR world -- and that was before he led the most memorable lap (and only, so far, Sprint Cup led lap) of his life at Talladega. It's no walk in the park to find victory lane over the Cup drivers raining on the Nationwide Series parade, and to pick up two wins there is a nice feat.

Talladega has long been a track where some drivers get their only career win thanks to its overall crapshoot effect, but I feel like Keselowski can make a name for himself -- just as long as he doesn't get shuttled into Sprint Cup at Joey Logano speed. Give the dude some time to develop.

Q: Moving ahead, the Sprint Cup returns to Richmond Saturday night to close a long week for NASCAR on many levels. What's on tap? More excitement involving Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch?

GM: NASCAR's most-loved and least-loved (I'll let you decide where I'm going with that) drivers managed to go two-for-two in spinning one another out last year at Richmond. Kyle Busch initiated the contact in May before Dale Earnhardt Jr., uh, accidentally returned the favor in the fall race. As odds go, I'll bet we won't see any repeats of those incidents this weekend, but we'll definitely see someone get mad at someone else.

Don't forget, of course, the old-fashioned whipping that Denny Hamlin was laying on the field a year ago at his hometown track before a flat tire with 20 laps to go derailed his shot at victory lane. Hamlin led 381 of the 407 laps a year ago, and you've got to know that his teeth are grinding to score that victory in the heart of Virginia.

HC: Drivers love racing at Richmond and fans love watching it. It helps to have the Kyle Busch versus Dale Earnhardt Jr. subplot, but I think neither driver can afford a tussle. They've got a championship to position themselves for and neither is currently where he would have expected to be in the points standings. Earnhardt said as much this week.

The interesting thing about Richmond is how many Talladega grudges will carry over, but now that we're almost to the mid-point of the "regular" season, it's time for many drivers - like Earnhardt, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick - to step it up. There aren't many mulligans left.

Wheel2Wheel: From 'Dega to Richmond originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheel2Wheel: Saturday Night's All Right, Helio's Impact & Phoenix Favorites

Geoffrey Miller — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:19:00 EST

Filed under: Sprint Cup, Wheel2Wheel, IRL

Jump in as FH's Holly Cain & Geoffrey Miller go Wheel2Wheel on a variety of racing topics.

Is Saturday night racing good for NASCAR?

Holly Cain: It is a valid concern that Saturday night NASCAR Sprint Cup racing hurts ticket sales at local short tracks, NASCAR's grassroots. But it's a not an argument the short tracks will win. Going night racing is one of the best moves NASCAR has ever made and I think there should be more races under the lights.

The whole series shines both figuratively and literally - the cars flash around the tracks, the drivers and fans dig the atmosphere and typically the shows are great primetime TV with the kind of excitement that helps NASCAR continue to win over new fans.

Geoffrey Miller: There's something inherently beautiful about watching the Sprint Cup cars and stars under the lights on Saturday night. Sparks fly, the cars look better and Sunday afternoons are left open for everything you were hoping to get done around the house over the weekend. Plus, its easier on the crews and the fans in the stands because Sunday turns into a travel and rest day before hitting the grind again on Monday.

But the best part of Saturday night racing is simply the extra time it affords to all involved in a case of rain. Just look at the Richmond event last fall -- the Sunday crowd after the Saturday night rainout was huge.

What would a guilty verdict for Helio Castroneves do to the IndyCar Series?

HC: The IndyCar Series may insist it's still a great show without Helio in the field and the competitors will promise you, the racing won't lose a beat without. Neither is true.

Helio provided IndyCar something it badly needed: a driver with both skill and personality - the latter something this series is seriously lacking without him. It has talented drivers - Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti - but none that engage the grandstands and television audience as Castroneves can. Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti and Graham Rahal bring the series name recognition and pedigree, but haven't proven themselves consistent championship contenders yet.

If he is acquitted - the jury has reached a partial, undisclosed verdict - I can only imagine what an ultra- motivated Castroneves will accomplish for the remainder of the season. If he is found guilty, IndyCar will have a real void. I know drivers are hired to win races, not win popularity contests. However, while people watch racing for the sport and the technology, they cheer for the driver. And they liked to cheer for Helio.

GM: Look at it this way -- Helio was the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 two years in a row since Al Unser did it in 1970-71. He's the original Spiderman catchfence climber (long before Tony Stewart was doing it) and won the hearts of millions of adoring crossover fans during his run to a 'Dancing With the Stars' crown.

And, oh yeah, he's still vying to win his first IndyCar championship after several close calls and a near-upset of Scott Dixon a year ago. Don't try to argue with his popularity impact on open-wheel racing.

Needless to say, Helio is to IndyCar what Danica Patrick aspires to be -- a character with a track record of multiple wins -- and a loss of him to the sport could be a pretty detrimental blow.

Who's going to win Saturday night in Phoenix?

GM: Obviously it's a little tough to make a complete prediction without so much as a single Sprint Cup having turned a lap around Phoenix International, but that won't keep us media types from trying to be know-it-alls.

My choice? Well, I talked about him a little bit in my post the other day discussing the recent Hendrick Motorsports domination of all things central Arizona. Sure, some might see guys like Tony Stewart or teams like Roush Fenway making a spirited run to victory lane on Saturday night, but to me, such a spirited run couldn't be more needed for my favorite: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Think about it: he's had a rotten start to 2009, the pressure cooker is nearing inferno and last season's outings at PIR were some of his most successful races. Plus, he's a former winner at the 1-miler. I'm saying we can chalk up a big favorite to the pride of good ol' Kannapolis, N.C. -- Mr. Earnhardt Jr.

HC: Depending on how you read the odds, Jimmie Johnson going for a fifth straight win at Phoenix either makes him a overwhelming favorite or means surely, his time has to be up.

While it wouldn't surprise me to see Johnson win and really start to put the pressure on his teammate Jeff Gordon in the championship, I'm thinking we'll see a new winner for 2009. Tony Stewart won here in his rookie year and this could be where he gets his first victory as a team owner. Don't count out Roush teammates Carl Edwards (six top-10s in eight Phoenix starts) or Greg Biffle, who's led a lot of laps at Phoenix but hasn' won in a Cup car yet.

Wheel2Wheel: Saturday Night's All Right, Helio's Impact & Phoenix Favorites originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheel2Wheel: Dale Jr., 2009 Duds

Geoffrey Miller — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Bristol Motor Speedway, Wheel2Wheel

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s performance -- or lack thereof -- in 2009 has become a contentious debate, last weekend's Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway lacked the pizazz we're used to at Bristol and a few drivers have struggled to put forth results that'll leave you scratching your head.

What, you ask yourself, does FanHouse's Holly Cain and Geoffrey Miller have to say on these issues?

Find out as FH's Wheel2Wheel takes a look at NASCAR's current stories and issues. Read on to see what we've got to say, and when you're done, tell us exactly how we're wrong. It'll be more fun than sneaking your family sedan on to Daytona's high banks for a late night joyride.

Well, almost.

Has the Car of Tomorrow made the short track races worse or more competitive?

Holly Cain: It depends on your definition of competitive. When one car dominates a race, as Kyle Busch's No. 18 Toyota did Sunday at Bristol, Tenn., it makes the race appear uncompetitive. There was no bump-and-pass, because no one could catch Busch. But ask the guys fighting for all the other positions and they'll tell you the race is just as competitive with today's COT as it was 10 years ago. In fact, they're working harder for each position.

What Bristol lacked was the in-your-face excitement that has been more typical of short track races. It's early in the season and everyone's been on their best behavior so that's limited the grudge-racing sideshow that spices up the short track season. Bottom line: Competition good, drama low

Geoffrey Miller: Amazingly, I think you could argue that NASCAR's new car -- the COT -- has made races more competitive for the driver but yet worse for the fans, especially when one looks at the recent action at Bristol Motor Speedway. The drivers have raved about how nice the new surface is that allows them to race two-wide with ease. Such ease leads to less contact and less helmet-throwing or shoves from Jeff Gordon.

Conveniently, the new car rolled out just one race before that new concrete, so its tough to say which has caused a downturn in Bristol drama, a.k.a. crashes and finger pointing. The cars are a little tougher than the predecessor, which makes them a little more suited for the close quarters of a short track. Bottom Line: Tough to say

Who's the biggest disappointment of the season so far?

GM: It's easy to jump on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s horse about not getting things done early in '09, but when looking at his performance compared with teammates Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson one has to realize that team really isn't that far off.

I'd say David Ragan's or Casey Mears' performance has been the most disappointing of any driver. Ragan just simply hasn't had any bit of consistency to start the season after rounding out 2008 on a high note and Mears is failing to impress anyone in his new Richard Childress Racing ride. They sit 25th and 26th in the current standings, respectively. Bottom Line: David Ragan, Casey Mears

HC: The rookie class. With the testing ban this group of drivers has had the hardest transition to Sprint Cup in years. But I really expected Joey Logano and Scott Speed to be more competitive than they've been. Both are with well- financed teams and in Logano's case, he's with a two-time championship crew. Yet they've only had one top-20 finish between them. Good job to Australian Marcos Ambrose, he's the least-hyped, best-performing of the first-year drivers and doing it with a new team. I'm not expecting the rookies to win right out of the box -- just give us a little glimpse of that special talent we've heard so much about. Bottom Line: It's the pedal on the right, rookies

Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. being unfairly taken to task?

HC: Junior has been unfairly taken to task since he climbed behind the wheel of a race car with the name Earnhardt painted above the window. Unfair, because the expectations and standard he's always been held to are those of the greatest stock car driver in history - his late father. No one can relate to the kind of pressure Junior's had. And that short learning curve coupled with massive expectation is unrealistic. He's gotten more criticism than he deserves - and more hype than he deserves.

Having said that, Earnhardt has always graciously accepted the exceptional opportunity. And it's not as if he hasn't proven himself as a driver. He's won two Nationwide championships, the 2004 Daytona 500, five Talladega races and events at every kind of track except a road course. So people should get off his back over a disappointing five-race run to start the season. He's with the best team in NASCAR, run competitively and incidentally has won more recently than his teammate, some guy named Jeff Gordon. Now isn't the time to issue a verdict on the season. Bottom Line: Who judges a season after 5 races?

GM: Yes and no. He's driving for what has been the best organization in NASCAR for three straight years, and with that and his name come a heavy dose of expectations to run up front. I mean come on -- this team has to put up for all the media coverage he got for his switch to Hendrick, right? So that part is fair.

What isn't fair, though, is that people 1) think 5 races determine a season and 2) Tony Eury Jr. doesn't have the tools to get it done. Minus mistakes, Earnhardt Jr. could have won Daytona and an engine failure at California didn't help anything. Rick Hendrick may love Dale Jr. like a son, but the man is smart enough to know that huge contract for that No. 88 has to put up numbers, and if Tony Eury Jr. wasn't the man for the job he sure as heck wouldn't be there. Bottom Line: Some ways yes, some ways no

Wheel2Wheel: Dale Jr., 2009 Duds originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wheel2Wheel: California Dreamin'

Geoffrey Miller — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: Sprint Cup, Wheel2Wheel

With the stars and cars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series set to take the season's second green flag Sunday afternoon, FanHouse bloggers Holly Cain and Geoffrey Miller debate the oh-so-touchy subject of NASCAR's presence at Southern California's Auto Club Speedway.

Q: Should NASCAR leave its biggest race at Daytona and make the trip west to Auto Club Speedway for the season's second race?

Holly Cain: I've always thought NASCAR should completely overhaul the schedule, but there is a reasonable argument in keeping traditional dates at some places -- Auto Club Speeday doesn't have the tradition of Darlington or Bristol or Daytona.

Having said that, Southern California's mild climate makes sense for a February-March stop. Wisely, NASCAR eliminated the off-week right after Daytona and put California and Las Vegas next to each other. My suggestion, switch the dates -- run the Las Vegas race first so there's no in-market competition with the Academy Awards and roll out the red carpet the following week in Fontana when there will be less competition for media and fans and more star-power available trackside.

Geoffrey Miller: The better question really needs to be "Should NASCAR ever race at Auto Club Speedway?" but as we know with just about everything that is pushed by NASCAR, such a reversal isn't ever going to happen. The track's two dates appear -- as of now, at least -- to be incredibly secure on the schedule. Still, that doesn't mean NASCAR has any business making ACS the second stop on the schedule. Last week's Daytona ~~500~~ 380 wasn't exactly a barnburner of a finish, but NASCAR needs to have a track for the second race that produces good racing -- not the single-file spread-out product we get at ACS.

Q: What keeps Auto Club Speedway from being a well-received stop on the schedule.

GM: ACS just simply wasn't built for bulky and heavy stock cars, and the lack of appreciable banking turns the track into a test in aerodynamic handling. Hence, one car gets the lead and the clean air and pulls away. It's just not great racing. Put an open-wheel car with multiple times the downforce of a stock car and ACS is a great track -- except the track burned its bridges with the open-wheel brigade in favor of NASCAR.

Of course, the die-hards in the both NASCAR's garage and grandstands know that ACS was the track that NASCAR made its most egregrious blunder in terms of eroding the sport's tradition after it pilfered the Labor Day weekend Southern 500 out of the hands of Darlington Raceway. That race moved to ACS, and the wounds are yet to close.

HC: Simple -- too much competition for the entertainment dollar in the Los Angeles market and not enough competition on the race track.

There are just so many options for people's weekends in Southern California that NASCAR should do a better job seizing on its unique offering - for sure there's nothing else like the speed, personality and excitement of watching a race first-hand. Experience it once and you've got an instant fan and return customer. And while the competitors swoon about the great track surface and race potential at Auto Club Speedway, frankly it tends to be one of the more boring stops. Already this weekend, we've seen one car check out and lead a parade. Great for the winner, not so much for the rest of us.

Q: Is there anything that can make Auto Club Speedway a better place for NASCAR?

HC: See question number one. Timing, timing, timing. There's no doubt NASCAR needs to be in the Los Angeles market - maybe just not twice. Being there brings a sense of legitimacy to NASCAR's expansion, saturation and claim to be a mainstream, premier professional sport. But it would be more beneficial to have one celebrated, well-recieved event instead of a pair of so-so weekends.

GM: The track has made an extensive effort at bringing celebrities from the Southern California area in for races to drive the pace car, play pre-race concerts and wave the green flag. Problem is, Fontana, Calif., is nearly an hour away from the hustle and flow of L.A.'s trendy scene and the general population around the track isn't exactly in to that. Celebrities, frankly, shouldn't be the draw for fans at a NASCAR race -- the racing should.

California has NASCAR fans, but when track executives try to turn the track into a possible hangout for the stars of MTV's "The Hills", the core fan base just loses interest. Make the racing better and the enviornment more hospitable to the race fan demographic and ACS might have a chance to be something to look forward to on the season schedule.

Q: Who should be a favorite for Sunday's Sprint Cup race?

GM: Rumor has it Carl Edwards did in fact race in Daytona last week, though you'd be hard-pressed to find anything notable he did during Speedweeks. His season starts Sunday at a track he won at a year ago.

HC: With the way Kyle Busch is running, he's the favorite for any and all races.

Wheel2Wheel: California Dreamin' originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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