Deja Flippin Vu, Almost

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.

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Well, it was almost like deja vu as Carl Edwards led the last lap for the second week in a row.

After much impending anticipation, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series made it to Las Vegas. After the fiasco in Fontana last week, it was definitely a welcomed weekend where weather wasn’t an issue, and the racing was anticipated to be really good.

It wasn’t bad, however as a colleague pointed out, I was left with a slight empty feeling. To me it felt like the guys we’re leaving something on the table, for lack of a better term. I reflect back to comments about the tires, a lack of overall grip, and the term cautiously aggressive comes to mind.

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Filed Under: Carl Edwards, Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Jeff Gordon, Joe Gibbs Racing #20, Las Vegas, Nascar, Roush Racing #99, Sprint Cup, Teams, Tony Stewart, Tracks

Tagged As: Carl Edwards, Cousin Carl, Jeff Gordon, Las Vegas, Post-Race Inspection, Tony Stewart



Trackback URL for: Deja Flippin Vu, Almost

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Friday February 15, 2008
10:21am CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.

Jeff Gordon

• 2007 Stats

  • Organization: Hendrick Motorsports
  • Car Number: 24
  • Crew Chief: Steve Letarte
  • Sponsor: DuPont
  • Points: 2nd :: 6646 :: -77
  • Starts: 36
  • Poles: 7
  • Wins: 6
  • Top 5’s: 21
  • Top 10’s: 30
  • Winnings: $7,148,620

• 2008 Preview

  • Organization: Hendrick Motorsports
  • Car Number: 24
  • Crew Chief: Steve Letarte
  • Sponsor: DuPont

What a difference a year makes? No. What a difference a wife, and a life, makes. That’s just how things work in the world of Jeff Gordon. When his personal life is stable and happy, it shows on the track. He tears is up. His marriage in 2006 to super-model Ingrid Vandebosch solidified his private life. It also solidified his on-track performance. When Jeff and Ingrid welcomed in Ella Sofia, it made him even more of a threat on the track.

Scoring the most points in 2007, he was on the typical “get outta my way” roll that has made him famous. He lead the Series in Poles (7), Top-5’s (21), and Top-10’s (30). It was a season the woke up the competition, and reminded them that he was still there. Only one goal wasn’t completed in 2007, and that was the continuing “Drive for 5″ campaign. If 2007 was any indication, he may just be warming up.

Looking ahead to 2008, Gordon has to be one of the favorites for the Title. Fans will tell you he should be looking for his 7th title but this isn’t Winston Cup, as much as many long time fans wish it were. However, all things aside, with the momentum coming from 2007 the 2008 season thus far in Speedweeks looks to keep on rolling without a bump. With a 3rd in his Duel race, and a 4th in the Bud Shootout, the consistency continues.

Note: information is accurate as of date published. Check Thunder Lounge for additional updates and information.

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Filed Under: Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Jeff Gordon, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Sprint Cup, Teams

Tagged As: Bud Shootout, Ella Sofia, Ingrid Vandebosch, Jeff Gordon, Winston Cup



Trackback URL for: Daytona 500: 2 Days and Counting

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday February 13, 2008
3:35pm CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.

Motors, they are a changin’.

Or was that “times”? Well, that wasn’t the case in Daytona this afternoon.

It would seem that teams running Hendrick engines, at least 6 (includes Nemecheck and Riggs), would be changing engines before the Duel’s tomorrow afternoon.

But wait, we’re not stopping there. Toyota is also have problems with their engines. In fact, the exact same problem. To the extent that TRD is sending new engines straight from California, post haste.

The problem, for you engine techs out there, is that the coating on the cam shaft is coming off, getting on the lifters and filtering through the engine.

Clint Bowyer is also changing an engine today, but it was unrelated to the above problem according to SPEED.

What this means is that the teams who have changed engines prior to their Duel will have to start at the back of their assigned heat. Once the Duel’s have run, all teams may freely make an engine change without penalty.

3 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: Casey Mears, Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Junior, Daytona, Drivers, Furniture Row Racing #78, Haas CNC Racing #66, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Hendrick Motorsports #25, Hendrick Motorsports #48, Hendrick Motorsports #5, Hendrick Motorsports #88, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Joe Nemechek, Nascar, Scott Riggs, Sprint Cup, Teams, Tracks





Trackback URL for: R07 Woes For Chevy’s Top Dogs

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Tuesday November 6, 2007
11:39pm CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.

This should be saved for tomorrow’s WTF, but I couldn’t help it.

So, before we get out of recovery mode from the Texas Sized Thunder at Thunder Lounge this past weekend, I’ll leave you with a simple statement.

“It’s no wonder Kentucky can’t get a race date. Their media can’t even get their NASCAR coverage right, nor do they have a clue.”

In this article, the fish-wrap generator of “Eastern Kentucky” loses all credibility with a simple line. While most of the article is pimping on Bruton Smith and his purchase of New Hampshire, they had to get their own spin on the title hunt in. That’s what killed it.

“Johnson or Gordon have never won at Phoenix but both have had some success as Johnson has a couple of runner-up finishes including last November and Gordon has a trio of third place finishes.”

Notice anything strange there? I do. Hell, if you can’t even keep up with something that happened this season, what good are you? Well, you’re not. To add to that, you’re obviously not even doing your homework when out of your league.

For the record, and we’ll get to it when we get back on track tomorrow, the event at Texas went off like hot cakes off the griddle. One hell of a show, as always.

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Filed Under: Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Hendrick Motorsports #48, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Phoenix, Tracks





Trackback URL for: Just a quick poke at Kentucky…

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday October 3, 2007
3:41pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

Welcome to the first edition of WTF? Wednesday™.

A brief synopsis: Every Wednesday, we’re going to go the extra mile (and possibly throw “the flag”) to ask the all inevitable question that is lurking on everyone’s mind. WTF? If it’s smelling funny, and has to do with NASCAR, we’re going to ask it.

On to this weeks column.

Kyle Bush and his manifold of gold

As you may or may not have heard, NASCAR failed the #5 of Kyle Bush after he swept through (again) to Victory Lane in the Busch Race at Kansas.

They “deemed” his intake manifold to be “illegal”. Yet, here it is Wednesday already and there hasn’t been a word about it since Sunday. WTF?

Hendrick says it’s legit, and that it’s no different than other times. In fact, they even sent one into NASCAR and they inspected it for 2 days earlier last week.

So, what’s “good to go” this week may be “illegal” the next? WTF?

Late this afternoon, NASCAR announced a “fine” of $10,000 for Mike Bumgarner, the crew chief for Kyle Bush in the Busch Nationwide Series for violations found post-race at Kansas.

Bruton Smith “may” build a new “Charlotte”

Bruton wants a drag racing venue at his current location in the capital of NASCAR. Cool, he’s done it at Bristol and Texas to name a few. He gets the required zoning, and begins.

All of a sudden, the City Council (we’re talking Concord, not “technically Charlotte”) decided the other night to overturn the zoning for the area, leaving Mr. Smith in the middle of a project which (currently) can’t be used. WTF?

Supposedly the “City Council” wanted to pull the reins on all the “noise” in the area, as it’s building up around the track in terms of both business and residential neighbors. OK, whatever.

So, Bruton laid out the terms for all to see. If that’s the way it’s going to be, and “noise” is such a concern, I want my tracks together. If I need to relocate my venues to another part of town, I will.

Huh?

Mr. Bruton Smith went on to compare it to a stick/ball team building a new arena in town. It’s still there, just in a different location. This isn’t a ploy or a threat. It’s the facts. If he has to move it to another area of town, he will. He’s already scouting land around the Charlotte area, and I’d bet there’s a few communities welcoming the move with open arms.

So you’ll hear about Charlotte closing, but really it’s just moving to another side of town.

The question is, what would the track be like? Would it mirror the current configuration? Let’s hope not.

Bruton Smith has a few things at his disposal now. He’s got raw data from various sources, and I’d be willing to bet that if indeed a deal can’t be reached, and he does build a new facility, that it will be the best one on the circuit. He knows what is working, and where the future is headed. Expect the facilities to be top notch, and something viable for not only today, but for decades to come.

What about the track itself? Would it be the same thing, or could it be something unique? Here’s a chance to shine. Do something that hasn’t/isn’t being done. Make that track even more special than it already is. 1.5 miles in length? Nah. 2 miles? Maybe, but Michigan and Cali-bore-nia already do it. 1 mile? Dover, New Hampshire. 1.75 miles? 1.25 miles? Hmmm, 600 miles is divisible evenly at 1.25 miles, 1.75 is a tick off, but almost another full lap.

With all the data available, the chance to truly make a “Beast of the Southeast” exists. The fans would dig it (who wants another cookie?), the drivers would dig it, and most of all it would be something different.

We’ll see what happens on that front, but for now in terms of this “out of nowhere” deal, WTF?

Kansas

We aren’t in Kansas anymore, but thoughts sure haven’t left there.

Why was a race that had not a chance of ending before darkness resumed? WTF?

OK, if I had paid to be there, I’d want as much show as possible.

“Technically”, if all the remaining laps went green it could have made the distance. NASCAR isn’t that dumb, so they said we’re going to 225. WTF?

The thing is, when has there been an opportunity to restart a race at all? It would either:
a) go way into the night
b) not enough daylight left, and no lights available
c) wasn’t enough left for it to be worth it.

Kansas was what, 12 or so laps past halfway? NASCAR made the call to continue with as much of a show as possible, which was a good call for fans, just maybe not for your driver. Then again, maybe your driver came out better than if it had been stopped? Then again, the one who would have benefited most from not resuming, ended up with the bonehead move of the race. “Hey Smoke, there’s smoke coming out of your tire.” But, I digress.

Then you have the finish. Biffle cut the motor off coming out of 4 on the final lap, to make sure he had enough fuel to do a burn out. He had half a gallon left, by the way, but NASCAR made him walk over to Victory Lane. WTF? Why couldn’t the guy do a burnout? WTF?

“Da rules” state a reasonable speed, and NASCAR said it was. Some of the competitors didn’t think it was, so they passed under yellow. NASCAR said the field was frozen, so that was that. OK, but also if you pass under yellow, don’t you get a penalty? So if that’s true, and Biffle wasn’t maintaining a reasonable speed (almost half the pace car speed as he crossed the line), then wouldn’t Casey Mears have won with Jeff Gordon finishing second? But, the field was frozen and Biffle maintained a reasonable speed. WTF?

Not even the mighty scoring loops of NASCAR got it right. It had Bowyer listed at 1st, followed by Johnson. Talk about a Charlie Foxtrot drill. Anyone want to wager about a slight modification to the wording in “Da Rules” about this for next season? If there isn’t, we have our last WTF?

2 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: Busch Series, Casey Mears, Charlotte/Lowe's, Clint Bowyer, Drivers, Features, Greg Biffle, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Hendrick Motorsports #25, Hendrick Motorsports #48, Hendrick Motorsports #5, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Joe Gibbs Racing #20, Kansas, Kyle Busch, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Richard Childress Racing #07, Roush Racing #16, Teams, The Chase, Tony Stewart, Tracks, WTF? Wednesday's





Trackback URL for: WTF? Wednesday…

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Tuesday June 26, 2007
5:34pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

According to NASCAR, they have made their position clear on playing with the COT and that it is nothing like the previous car what so ever.

Both Johnson and Gordon have been docked 100 points (Driver and Owner), fined $100,000, and their crew chiefs (Letarte and Knaus) have been suspended for 6 events.

The Hendrick teams have been putting in overtime since returning from Sonoma in preparation for this possibility. Their preparation was obviously not in vein.

This marks a new era for NASCAR, and gives the appearance that it is becoming more like the IROC series was. Look at the cars that will roll out at Daytona, and then compare them to the same car at Chicago. If you can’t see an obvious difference in the body, you’re blind as a bat.

However with the COT this isn’t the case. Apparently anything put on it will be considered a NASCAR approved part, and there is no room for ingenuity in engineering. Isn’t that the point? Here’s the rules, now make your car as fast as possible without violating it? The car fit the templates, so where is the problem? What happened to being able to go back and fix it if it wasn’t illegal, and then bringing it back through?

What if someone comes through and their car is a tick low in one corner because a bolt wasn’t tightened enough? Previously, they could fix it and come back through. The tech process is not just an approval process, but a process where it can sometimes help a team avoid a serious issue and subsequent wreck.

So as NASCAR welcomes in an era they will no doubt taut as the era of diversity, thanks to Montoya pulling it off at Sonoma, they also seem to be saying goodbye to the past and the ability for teams to play within the rules to make their car better than their neighbors.

Yet, why wasn’t the #5 or #25 involved in this issue?

To me this is simple. Their cars that they brought had already been raced previously. The #24 and #48 were both new cars that had not been on the track yet. So, it comes down to when and how the body was fabricated.

Unfortunately, NASCAR is also in the position of damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Had there been no additional penalties, they would be criticized by those who don’t understand as showing Hendrick favoritism. Then on the flip side, they open themselves to criticism where they are apparently taking away any areas for the teams to work in.

Certainly if one thought they were skirting a gray area, then would they really put it right in plain view to anyone with two eyes who could see it? I don’t think so, Tim.

So where is the line? NASCAR is obviously drawing it in the sand, so we’ll see what happens from here on out.

Join the discussion.

Filed Under: Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Hendrick Motorsports #48, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Sonoma/Infineon, Teams, Tracks





Trackback URL for: Gordon And Johnson Penalized: Crew Chiefs Out For Six

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Friday June 22, 2007
2:23pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

Just revealed on NASCAR Live on Speed, in pre-inspection both the #24 and #48 failed to fit the “grid” that NASCAR uses as its template check. You know, that big claw looking thing.

Neither team will be allowed to practice or qualify, and NASCAR will be meeting with the teams to discuss what they will be allowed to participate in this weekend.

Both will start from the back at the pack, 41st and 42nd respectively.

The cars did not conform to “Da Rules”, apparently the issue was with the left front fenders. The template fit the check points, but it was something to do with what was going on in between those particular points and that the fenders were slightly “bowed” out a bit. You may draw a comparison to that whole “X” template thing that a few cars were hit on last season.

As of this post, both cars were in the process of going back through tech. The #48 has made it past “the claw”, and the #24 was still working on it.

What is not known at this time is penalty assessments, or anything else.

I’m sure the rumors and whatever will be flying, as well as the Hendrick “Hater-Aid” as well.

Share your thoughts!.

Filed Under: Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Hendrick Motorsports #48, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Sonoma/Infineon, Teams, Tracks





Trackback URL for: Johnson and Gordon Fail Infineon Inspection Grid

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday June 20, 2007
3:44pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

Congratulations to Jeff and Ingrid who welcomed Ella Sofia into the world this morning shortly after 9am local time.

From JeffGordon.com

NEW YORK, N.Y. (June 20, 2007) - Earlier today, Jeff Gordon and Ingrid Vandebosch welcomed a new daughter into the world. Ella Sofia Gordon was born at 9:09 a.m., weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and was 20 inches long.

“It’s been an absolutely incredible experience,” Gordon said. “Ingrid came through amazingly and we’re both really happy and overjoyed. We can’t wait to get home and start our lives together as a family.”

The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will travel to Northern California later this week and is scheduled to participate in all on-track activities at Infineon Raceway, site of this weekend’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race.

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Filed Under: Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Jeff Gordon, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Sonoma/Infineon, Teams, Tracks





Trackback URL for: Congratulations In Order For Ella Sofia

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Monday June 11, 2007
10:17am CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

You can almost hear Bulldog make the cries as if he thought someone swiped his (soon to be Oklahoma City) Sonics tickets.

You know it’s going to be said, so I’ll say it for them so we can all have a good laugh.

That being, that you know some idiot out there is going to say NASCAR conspired to hand Gordon the rain shortened win at Pocono yesterday. Give me a frickin break. Can people really be that out of touch with reality out there?

Yes, they can. Ever read the “reader” letters sent in to Scene Daily that they post on their blog from time to time? Point proven.

So great. We’ve had the unfortunate passing of the Pioneer of NASCAR, and now NASCAR will be pegged for having an inside with God and conspiring to produce (or try to produce) certain outcomes that they see fit.

Yes, there really are people out there that will say it. Sad, isn’t it?

Right place, right time, and an experiment early in the race to see how the car would run in clean air. It paid off, but was definitely a “Hero or Zero” call by Steve Letarte. Fortunately this season he’s been a hero far more times than the other alternative. Sometimes, it’s just your year.

Hell, we should be thankful for the rain added drama. Else we would have been treated to another choo-choo show at Pocono. Seriously, 500 miles there is mostly flat out boring, and doing it twice within a month isn’t helping. Granted, I wouldn’t trade a show at Pocono for Kentucky, but I sure wouldn’t mind one of them being replaced with Iowa.

And Kurt? That’s coming up later on today.

Join the discussion.

Filed Under: Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Jeff Gordon, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Pocono, Teams, Tracks





Trackback URL for: This Stinks! This Is Total B.S.

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Monday April 30, 2007
12:32pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

The “what if” scenarios from last week after Jeff Gordon won at Phoenix from the pole have come true. What if he passes Dale Earnhardt, at Talladega where he was so good and to top it off on his birthday? The answer came raining down from a few fans, who decided to ignore not only the tracks warnings but those from Dale Junior as well, as beer cans and other items flew down from the stands as Jeff Gordon took the checkers (under caution after a wreck during a green/white/checker finish) late yesterday afternoon.

It’s a shame, really. A shame that a few individuals can’t get over it and have to act like a 3-year old. A thumbs up goes out to the folks at Talladega for adding the additional security and at least making some arrests. Yet these same “fans” wonder why the world has a certain image of what a NASCAR fan is. Thanks for the stereotype ya jackasses.

So as the conclusion was drawing near, I was curious as to the last time there was not only back to back wins from the pole, but by the same driver. After all, it is a rare occurrence considering the closeness of the competition these days. To satisfy curiosity, here’s the scoop.

Last time there was back to back wins from the pole:
6/11/2006: Denny Hamlin won from the pole at Pocono.
6/18/2006: Kasey Kahne won from the pole in a rain shortened run at Michigan.

Last time the same driver went back to back from the pole:
6/27/2004: Jeff Gordon won from the pole at Sonoma/Infineon.
7/03/2004: Jeff Gordon won from the pole at Daytona.

Interesting stat, to say the least.

Something we commented on recently was why the garage was keeping an eye on Gordon, and his being so happy in life off the track. Backing this up was Rick Hendrick last night on Speed’s Victory Lane, when Herman brought the subject up.

Speaking of Hendrick, Jack Roush isn’t exactly pleased that so far Hendrick Motorsports is showing early dominance of the season. Jack flat out said he’d have to do some undercover investigating into how the organization is testing, where they’re testing, and what tires they’re using.

Hey Jack, just be happy it isn’t your “good buddies” from Toyota stinking up the show. It could be worse, you know.

We’re not denying the dominance of the bowtie this season thus far. Far from it. However just as last year there seems to be the same old problems. Well not problems, but the same situations.

With the Ford camp, they just haven’t got the handle on the Fusion yet. To put it frankly, it’s still kicking their butts. It was supposed to be “as good” off the shelf as a tweaked up Taurus, yet since its inception it has failed to produce the results of the Taurus. They had more time and engineering into the Taurus, which now a lot of that information is no longer any good. The Fusion simply needs more time, and they’re fresh out with the COT coming and possibly coming full time a year earlier than originally expected.

Then there are the Dodge guys. Evernham being the Dodge flagship, they’re getting their butts kicked with the new nose that the Dodge teams lobbied so hard for last season. Yet, Ganassi has shown improvement, and Penske is showing a slight improvement over last season as well. Did Evernham “hit” on something last year that’s not making it through tech this season? Daytona proved to be one case where certain things got them a monetary reminder, but is there something else going on behind the scenes? If there is, it wouldn’t be the first time Ray’s been advised not to bring something back to the track.

Then there is Toyota. New manufacturer, two car styles to keep up with, no data from previous years to work with, and to top it off the competition is closer than ever. Not the best time to try and get into NASCAR at the Cup level, and while hindsight is 20/20, it probably would have been a more wise decision to phase in with the COT.

Finally, we have Chevy. What’s going on there? Setting aside the COT for a moment, the Monte Carlo hasn’t seen the changes that Ford or Dodge have in their cars. Data from last year, the year before, etc., is still relevant. More data to pull from, plus having half the field with your symbol on the hood equates to more information and better odds of performance.

I don’t see it as an advantage for Chevy, they just haven’t fixed what wasn’t broken, or tried to improve something that maybe didn’t need it yet.

Another twist to this, is a “what if” game. What if Chevy took notes of how Toyota shared team information and then implemented something similar? I don’t think Zippy knows what Knaus puts under the car, but what if there was “certain” elements and data available through Chevy? More so than there has been in the past, in order to get a leg up on the new manufacturer? It’s a possibility, and one to take under careful consideration.

Share your thoughts!.

Filed Under: Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Jeff Gordon, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Talladega, Teams, Tracks





Trackback URL for: Beer Bash For Gordon At Talladega, Chevy Continues Dominance