By Charlie Turner, Thunder Lounge
Sunday April 6, 2008
10:39pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

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Forty two Sprint Cup drivers hated NASCAR’s experiment in stock car design after the Samsung 500 Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.

Jeff Gordon actually parked his car early - after an inevitable spin and wall wack - and insisted that crew chief Steve Letarte “fix the dang thing”. Gordon later returned to the track to taste the results of Letarte’s efforts. The leftovers weren’t much better and after a few more laps Gordon called it a day. Jeff said that they tried every possible set-up. Nothing works for the team. That is not a good sign.

Gordon’s teammate Jimmy Johnson finished second and led sixty-some laps. All-in-all that is a big improvement from recent results, but Johnson says the new car needs help. You can’t drive it in traffic, it needs more down-force. And this is a team that has tested the new car nearly every non-race day for the last two weeks. Hell, Chad - can I hear a hallelujah - Knauss is the crew chief! If they can’t figure it out ……?

Maybe Joe Gibbs Racing can. Not according to third place finisher Kyle Busch who said;

“Was it fun to drive? No. Was it hard to drive? Yes,” Busch said. “Did it survive the day? Yes. So was it a good day? Sure.”

Kyle was asked to talk further about the car and said:

“I’m not going to answer that question. Ask NASCAR that question.”

Ryan Newman finished fourth, but flunked the post-race rectal and will undoubtedly lose points, cash and crew chief attendance for a while. Presumably because they exceeded legality in the effort to fix the problems with the car. So much for the cheating solution.

The race winner was Carl “flipper” Edwards - for the third time this year. Carl doesn’t see the problem. At all. It isn’t so much that Edwards thinks that his new cars handle any better than his competitor’s rides. He just thinks the way that they are is OK. The same for everybody, a challenge to drive for sure but rewarding to master. He likes it.

NASCAR says they have no intention of making big - or even small - changes to the former CoT. That fact may make Carl Edwards the eventual champion of the first Sprint CoT Cup Series.

Join the discussion.

Filed Under: Carl Edwards, Charlie Turner, Guest Authors, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Sprint Cup, Texas

Tagged As: Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, kyle busch, Nascar, Samsung 500, Texas Motor Speedway

Trackback URL for: Carl Edwards says “what problems” to new car critics

By Charlie Turner, Thunder Lounge
Sunday April 6, 2008
9:05am CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

NASCAR’s annual silly season is off to an early start.

Last week the story was of Richard Childress Racing capturing the General Mills flag from the Petty #43 and planting it on the hood of a fourth RCR Cup car. Where there’s a car there must eventually be a driver and the speculation began that Petty Enterprises’ Bobby Labonte might make the move to that ride in 2009. The last few days have seen the names of Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr emerge. Earlier, others had speculated that Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman were possibilities.

Next up came the news that Kyle Petty was pulling himself or being ranked - you decide - from the Petty #45 and being replaced by young Chad McCumbee - at least for the Texas race. The #45 is well out of the top thirty five in owner’s points now and it feels like Kyle may be on the way out of the picture as a full time driver for the venerable team.

Then yesterday came rumblings from Florida, where Chip Ganassi is watching over his Indy Car investment and stewing about the performance of his three Cup teams. Chip isn’t happy with either Dario Franchitti’s or Reed Sorenson’s seasons so far. Ganassi talks as if he feels the problems are more team than driver related. But that wouldn’t make me feel all that comfortable if I were Dario or Reed.

The top thirty five qualifying rule puts more focus and pressure on the tail-enders of Sprint Cup. We’ve only had one race since the automatic qualifiers started being based on this year’s owners’ points. The sixth race of the year is now opening day for NASCAR’s silly season.

4 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: Bobby Labonte, Carl Edwards, Charlie Turner, Chip Ganassi Racing #40, Dario Franchitti, Greg Biffle, Guest Authors, Kyle Petty, Petty Enterprises #45, Reed Sorenson, Ricky Rudd, Sprint Cup, Teams

Tagged As: Chad McCumbee, Chip Ganassi, Greg Biffle, Indy Car, Kyle Petty, Nascar, Petty Enterprises, Richard Childress Racing, silly season, Tony Stewart

Trackback URL for: The six race NASCAR honeymoon is over

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Monday March 31, 2008
4:15pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

Come one, come all, come often.

It’s that time of year again, and you can bet your boots that the infamous Thunder Lounge® is headed to the infield of Texas Motor Speedway.

When the sun goes down, the lights come up at Thunder Lounge. Bring your beverage of choice, and come on down. The party will rock into the night as always, as if you miss one minute, you’ll be regretting it.

Starting Friday, find me (Luke) and mention you read our site, and we’ll give you a FREE Thunder Lounge wristband. These aren’t some cheap little thing, they’re the real deal. 100% silicone, and screen printed with a fiery background and the Thunder Lounge logo in blue. A steal at $7, get yours FREE. (Quantities limited, while supplies last. Some will be reserved for both Friday and Saturday.)

For those needing a little assistance, here’s the map to the facility. If you’re not already in the infield, we recommend using the SOUTH tunnel, as it’s open for traffic 24/7 during the weekend. You will need an infield pass, which can be obtained when you walk through the tunnel gate.

The house will be rockin all weekend long, so come on out, relax, and enjoy yourself.

See you at the track!

6 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: Nascar, Nationwide Series, Network News, Sprint Cup, Texas, Thunder Lounge, Tracks

Tagged As: Texas Motor Speedway, Thunder Lounge, Track Events

Trackback URL for: Texas Two Step Time Again

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Friday March 28, 2008
3:31pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

The sky is falling. NASCAR hates Toyota. Whatever you want to build into a conspiracy. I won’t, but feel free to have at it.

It’s now official, the bullshit flag now raised. The following decision by NASCAR stinks to high heaven.

NASCAR has denied the request of Michael Waltrip Racing to switch Owners Points from the #00 Dream Machine to the #44 UPS Toyota Camry.

Why would MWR want to do that anyway? If you don’t know by now, David Reutimann has taken over the wheel of the #44 effective at the conclusion of Bristol two weeks ago. He replaces Dale Jarrett, who now enters “retirement” and moves into the broadcast booth for ESPN. DJ will run the All-Star race in May as his final event.

This being the case, David Reutimann had earned a 27th spot thus far in the 2008 Owners Points, while Dale Jarrett was 34th. With rookie Michael McDowell taking over the #00, Michael Waltrip Racing wanted to allow David to keep what he had earned for Owners Points thus far this season, giving the rookie McDowell the left overs.

Honestly, that makes more sense then being handed points on a silver platter. I shall now cough while saying a name who has manipulated the Owners Points recently.

David Reutimann earned his points for the Owners Standings, and allowing him to keep them would be the right thing to do. However, NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series Director, John Darby, says that, “point swaps typically are granted only when there is a change in a business function or when an owner is trying to reorganize during the offseason.”

Or if you want to manipulate the system to get a driver into the points to make a race, should be added to that statement.

So you can take points from your top car and give it to the new guy, but you can’t allow for a driver who earned his way to keep them when a number change is initiated within the organization.

The one time where a point swap within the same organization makes sense, and isn’t abusing the system, and NASCAR gets it wrong.

It wouldn’t matter who it is. Under these circumstances a points swap is not only logical, but honorable. However, it seems that honor isn’t something on NASCAR’s mind with this decision.

3 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: David Reutimann, Drivers, Martinsville, Michael Waltrip Racing #00, Michael Waltrip Racing #44, Nascar, Sprint Cup, Teams, Tracks

Tagged As: David Reutimann, Michael McDowell, Michael Waltrip Racing, MWR, Top-35, UPS

Trackback URL for: NASCAR got points swap wrong: Reutimann out on a limb

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday March 19, 2008
12:21pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

This is the question that has went unasked thus far in 2008. It’s time, past time actually, to ask it.

Currently, the best Rookie in the Owners Points is Sam Hornish Jr. He currently sits in 35th for 2008, as we head into race #6 where this years points take effect. Next up is Martinsville, and there are guys behind him with a lot more experience at this track. Considering the finesse it takes, this track has a habit of kicking Rookies to the curb. The odds of Hornish Jr. overcoming this are ones I wouldn’t take in any bookie joint in the land.

Behind Sam Hornish Jr. comes the rest of the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates.

Dario Franchitti is in 38th, just 37 points back, with Regan Smith nipping at his heels and just 2 points behind him in 39th.

Then we have Patrick Carpentier bringing up the rear, 186 points out of 35th (46th overall) and just 2 starts out of 5 possible this season. Stick a fork in their Top-35 efforts. They’re done.

What begs to be asked is that whether or not the Top-35 will be the deciding factor in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year winner for 2008. I’ll bet it does. It already has.

For those who are unfamiliar with how this all works out, here’s the description from the NASCAR.com Rookie Standings Page:

“Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidates earn points based on their best 17 finishes of the season. Points are earned through entry points, competition points based on finish, top 10 bonus points, bonus points based on three segments of the season and a panel of voters at the completion of the season.”

You will notice that it says “their best 17 finishes of the season“.

If driver A makes 30 races, and the next driver makes 20 races, didn’t driver A just get a 10 race advantage by having the opportunity to have more races to select their best 17 finishes from?

Sam Hornish Jr. is in 35th right now. What’s also not taken into consideration is that at least for a race or two, quite possibly more, Michael McDowell will be in the #00 for Michael Waltrip Racing when David Reutimann takes over the #44 at Martinsville.

Not that it’s likely, but the possibility (however slim) is there that just by him keeping it in the Top-35 he could literally run away with the Rookie of the Year, and missing the first 5 races of the year. Then again, it could be Hornish that does the same. Based solely on nothing more than having had 17 races to choose from, when other drivers may have much less.

While those races are not the only factor, they make up most of it. That being the case, the better the odds and the more races you have under your belt, the better you’re going to come out in the wash.

Now the question is, is this a fair way to judge the performance of the rookie class? Sure, you have to make a race to compete, which is part of the whole process. However, if someone makes just 12, but runs really well (better than someone barely keeping it in the Top-35) then how does that play out?

What we have here is yet another fiasco waiting to happen, and it’s on the verge of exploding. Nothing against Sam Hornish Jr., or any other rookie for that matter, however there is room for improvement in the overall system.

I don’t know what the answer is, honestly. There are so many possibilities, and none that can be implemented mid-stream in the season.

Should you go back to a 2 day qualifying session with provisionals? Maybe lock in the Top-20 as well?

How about increase the field? Where did 42 plus one past champion, to make 43 spots come from anyway? Why not add a couple starting spots, and make it an even 46, 48, or even 50? Surely there is enough room for everyone. OK, Martinsville and Bristol might be a tick on the tight side, but it can be done.

Right now, there are enough teams that are trying to run full time that opening even 3 more spots would help. There wouldn’t be a worry of “field fillers”, although some at the very back of the Top-50 in points now could be considered flirting with that concept. However, that’s not by lack of effort, it’s from a lack of funding, brought on by the whole Top-35 deal.

I have no answer to the problem, but there has to be a solution that works out for everyone involved. Whether that’s more spots, less lock-in’s, provisionals, or whatever the case may be.

One thing I do know, however, is that Saturday’s at Richmond (and Bristol) sure are boring when there isn’t a thing going on at the track before the sun goes down, the lights come up, and the show begins.

Share your thoughts!.

Filed Under: Chip Ganassi Racing #40, Dale Earnhardt Inc #01, Dario Franchitti, Drivers, Evernham Motorsports #10, Martinsville, Nascar, Regan Smith, Sprint Cup, Teams, Tracks

Tagged As: Dario Franchitti, Michael McDowell, Michael Waltrip Racing, Patrick Carpentier, Raybestos, Regan Smith, Rookie, Rookie of the Year, ROTY, Sam Hornish Jr, Top-35

Trackback URL for: Will the Top-35 determine the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year?