Daytona 500 had it all, but not the greatest ever
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 12:30am CST
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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It’s OK. Throw me under the bus. The 50th Anniversary of the Daytona 500 was good. Actually, it was damn good. However, it wasn’t the best ever. It was worthy of being the 50th anniversary though.
The season opener had it all. Drama, strategy, surprises, and [gasp] racing.
The internet trolls will tell you it sucked. Consider the source of that opinion. To them, everything sucks. They long for “the good old days”, yet their memory is clouded with nostalgia. This very well was one of the most competitive 500’s in recent memory. Ignore the fact that the results will tell you that 6 of the top 10 spots were taken by a Dodge. Don’t ask where they came from, we don’t know either. Yet there they are, taking home 1st, 2nd, 5th-7th, and 9th. Round out 2 Toyota’s, a Chevy and a Ford, and call it your top 10.
The lone Chevy? Dale Jr. Ford? Greg Biffle. Add in Smoke and Shrub in 3rd and 4th, and there you have it.
I can only imagine the hearts of the Toyota boys as they came down the backstretch on the final lap. Up to that point, you would be hard pressed to convince a new fan that Toyota wasn’t worth the paper in the Mens Room last season. Kyle Busch was making a scene, as was Tony Stewart. If you take any lessons from this, it better be that Toyota is coming.
However, as with every tale there has to be some drama. As Tony Stewart moved down to pick up his teammate Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman made the charge with his teammate Kurt Busch stuck to his bumper with Gorilla Glue.
The dreams of The Captain, and we don’t mean Morgan, then came true. After all these years, all the trials and tribulations, Roger Penske finally ended up in Victory Lane for the Daytona 500.
It was a typical plate race, chess-like maneuvers and precision positioning for a while, but that’s just the nature of the game. You have to make it to the end to have a chance to win. But the closer you get, the riskier your moves, and if you play your cards right, you win.
Last season, Dodge wasn’t impressive. Pre-season Thunder, still no love. Reed Sorenson showed some promise in the Shootout and Duels, but for most of the 500 Dodge was relatively quiet. They were there at the end though, and Penske has a nice $1,000,000 bonus from Dodge to prove it.
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Filed Under: Chip Ganassi Racing #41, Dale Earnhardt Junior, Daytona, Drivers, Elliot Sadler, Evernham Motorsports #19, Evernham Motorsports #9, Greg Biffle, Hendrick Motorsports #88, Joe Gibbs Racing #18, Joe Gibbs Racing #20, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Nascar, Penske Racing #12, Penske Racing #2, Reed Sorenson, Robby Gordon, Robby Gordon Motorsports #7, Roush Racing #16, Ryan Newman, Sprint Cup, Teams, Tony Stewart, Tracks
Tagged As: Dale Earnhardt Jr, Daytona 500, Elliot Sadler, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Reed Sorenson, Robby Gordon, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart
Trackback URL for: Daytona 500 had it all, but not the greatest ever
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.
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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
Saturday February 9, 2008
11:04pm CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.
That would be the Junior Nation.
The same Nation that folks wondered about, and were skeptical whether or not it would remain strong. Dale’s first pass for the lead shot that question straight into the hand basket, and on a one-way trip.
The 2008 Bud Shootout was interesting on several fronts. First being the debut of the car at Daytona in competition. I thought it went rather well. Not perfection or racing bliss by any means, but the guys could get out there and pass, and they ran 2-by-2 most of the night with occasional mixing of wider runs at times. A note that even surprised the broadcast team was that the pack never really strung out as it had in the past. However, we still haven’t seen it in a race of any real distance yet. We’ll know more in a week.
It wasn’t as squirrelly of a race as we might have expected after last nights final practice session. Tony and Kurt ended up around each other several times, but as NASCAR warned they gave each other plenty of room.
While there were a few accidents, it wasn’t anything that was really bad. What was interesting were the saves. As the broadcast team pointed out, and I’ll have to agree, the wing on the back of the car is really looking like it has the side effect of helping knock a car back straight when the back end steps out a bit. With the larger hole knocked in the air by the car, leading to less air on the car behind (and therefore less down force), we saw several examples this evening of the car being saved where in the past the car most likely would have went around. Whether this was an intended factor by NASCAR or not, I can’t say, but the results are interesting just the same.
Overall it was decent racing, a welcomed and needed finish, and on top of it all it cured the withdrawal symptoms that have plagued me since Thanksgiving.
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Filed Under: Dale Earnhardt Junior, Daytona, Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #88, Nascar, Sprint Cup, Teams, Tracks
Trackback URL for: The Roar Of A Nation
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Friday February 1, 2008
11:18pm CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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2007 Stats
- Organization: Dale Earnhardt Inc.
- Car Number: 8
- Crew Chief: Tony Eury Jr.
- Sponsor: Budweiser
- Points: 16th :: 3929 :: -2794
- Starts: 36
- Poles: 1
- Wins: 0
- Top 5’s: 7
- Top 10’s: 12
- Winnings: $5,221,970
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2008 Preview
- Organization: Hendrick Motorsports
- Car Number: 88
- Crew Chief: Tony Eury Jr.
- Sponsor: AMP/National Guard
Well, it’s time to see how the biggest story of 2007 plays out. Put up or shut up. You get the idea.
What can be said, that hasn’t already graced the pages of every publication and blog that even comes close to NASCAR?
While testing can prove little, the numbers thus far are in a positive light as far as the equipment goes. Now it’s time to see if it can be used to its full potential. Some will say “I told you so”, but the question yet to be answered is which side of the fence that will come from.
His teammates are impressed. Impressed with his talent, his knowledge, and his personality as well. Dale Jr. doesn’t have to try to fit in, all he has to do is be himself. It seems like that’s the case thus far, and the rest of the stable seems glad to have him there. As with any work environment, if you can’t have some fun while you’re at it, it isn’t worth doing.
Note: information is accurate as of date published. Check Thunder Lounge for additional updates and information.
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Filed Under: Dale Earnhardt Inc #8, Dale Earnhardt Junior, Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #88, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Sprint Cup, Teams
Trackback URL for: Daytona 500: 16 Days and Counting
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Monday October 29, 2007
3:55pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.
While Jimmie Johnson and his gaining of ground may be what you had in mind for the big story of the weekend at Atlanta, we’re sorry to disappoint you and let you know that the story out of Atlanta is instead the first official runs for Dale Earnhardt Junior and Tony Eury Jr under the Hendrick Motorsports banner.
Pictured are the duo, prepping for runs this morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Junior knocked it down with a 5th and a 15th in 2 different cars. (Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images) Fastest in the morning session was Kyle Busch in the #18 Chevy for Joe Gibbs.
Get ready for it folks, it will be the most talked about story this week.
Not water in the gas (Hamlin, Blaney, and Biffle), not gaining ground in the points (Johnson on Gordon), but how Dale’s week went.
You’ll notice in images from the test session(s), that he’s smiling. Heh, after a year like he’s had I would be too upon stepping into a ride of that caliber and quality. Not to mention to be able to hear Tony’s voice on the radio again.
Note that the red and white firesuit has Adidas across the front. The car is listed as the #5, and has a special paint scheme on it to commemorate the first car Hendrick put on the track (as All-Star) back in the day. It was Dale’s idea, and Rick ate it up. For you Junior fans out there, take a good look at this. If anything, it’s at least a glimmer of hope and the light at the end of the tunnel.
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Filed Under: Atlanta, Dale Earnhardt Junior, Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #5, Hendrick Motorsports #88, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Teams, Tracks
Trackback URL for: Johnson Gains Ground On Gordon, But Dale Jr Steals The Headlines
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Thursday September 20, 2007
10:52am CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.
Levi Strauss has put Jimmie Johnson on notice that it will cease its personal endorsement deal with him and cease being the Official Jeans of the team, according to the Sports Business Journal (as reported by Scene Daily).
The report get to a conclusion that supposedly none of this had a thing to do with the fact that Dale Earnhardt Junior has come to the hen house, guns blazzing, and wearing Wrangler’s. Wrangler being Levi Strauss’ biggest competitor.
I’m sorry, but I’ll have to beg to differ on that one regardless of what we’re told to think.
Let’s get some facts out there.
Last fall Levi Strauss, who has been a personal sponsor of Johnson since 2004, re-upped their deal for another 3 years.
Dale Earnhardt Junior recently renewed his contract with Wrangler, citing their acknowledgment of history and relationships.
Let me see here. Something just doesn’t add up folks.
Here’s how I see it. While I’m not Tim (where’s he ran off to, anyway?), this should still make some sense.
This situation is plain and simple.
Even being a sponsor of the reigning Nextel Cup Champion, how can they compete and effectively market their brand when the most popular driver in NASCAR walks in the door wearing the competition? There just isn’t enough room in the hen house on this one folks. Levi Strauss either had an out, or asked for one. Either way, they’re able to walk out of a 3 year deal after completing just a single year of it.
“… Johnson’s business manager told the SBJ that the Levi’s contract had nothing to do with the Wrangler contract.”
Um, right.
“A corporate official told the SportsBusiness Journal that it would be going in a different direction than being the official jeans of the team.”
Really? Is that so?
OK, so when could a company just up and decide to move in a different direction and break an endorsement contract with only reaching the 1/3 mark?
Conclusion:
In summary, Levi Strauss is definitely moving in a different direction, as they stated. They had, or asked for, an out, and have effectively received their break from the contract.
The direction they are moving in is whichever one is farthest from Dale Earnhardt Junior and his Wrangler deal. They just can’t, or don’t want to, compete against their rival apparel maker combined with the most popular driver in NASCAR.
Can’t really say I blame them, but hey, why not pony up the truth instead of all the smoke and mirrors?
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Filed Under: Dale Earnhardt Junior, Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #48, Hendrick Motorsports #88, Jimmie Johnson, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Teams
Trackback URL for: Did Levi Strauss Get Ticked Off?
