Jimmy Watts, Tires, and Cautions at Atlanta

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.

This is getting out of hand. Completely.

In case you’ve been in a hole since they ran the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta, let me catch you up real quick.

The scenario: All but 6 cars have made green flag pit stops, early on in the race.

The situation: A tire escapes from the crew of Marcos Ambrose’s #47 Toyota Camry, which quickly takes off and rolls across pit road, and along the “road” of that little flat track in the infield.

So here you have a tire rolling towards cars moving at 180MPH+. Needless to say, it’s a horror story waiting to happen.

In a quick response the Gas Man, Mr. Jimmy Watts, scans for cars coming down pit road, and then hauls the mail after it. NASCAR throws a caution, all but 6 cars are trapped at least a lap down, and the drama ensues.

No, it’s not smart to run into the infield grass when cars are running 180MPH+ on the track. It’s dangerous, and foolhardy.

After quickly scanning the situation (noticing that it was clear to make a dash not only across pit row, but also noticing that there wasn’t and cars wrecking into the infield grass), Jimmy made the dash.

Let’s get a few things straight. As I said, it wasn’t smart. Look at the situation though. A tire is rolling quickly towards the racing surface, and at the time there was no indication it wouldn’t make it. How many cars would it have tore up? Could it have possibly been booted into the stands? Into the infield campgrounds? A lot of people could have been hurt. So the one (Jimmy Watts) sacrifices himself (and his NASCAR credentials) to make an effort to stop it before a lot of people could have been hurt.

Before you call bullshit, I kindly remind you of an incident at Charlotte recently. Remember the tire that got bopped into the infield and hit that camper? Yes, it can happen.

Now, a lot of blame has been placed on Jimmy for causing the caution. Again, that’s bullshit too. NASCAR would have thrown one anyway because the tire was in the infield. Like it or not, the yellow laundry was coming out, regardless of whether Jimmy went after it or let it play out.

It was a quick decision to try and ensure the safety of all, by sacrificing the safety of the one. No, it wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but hindsight is always 20/20 (or Logano/Logano if you prefer). At the time the tire was rolling, there was no way to know it wasn’t going to stop. By the time it was evident, Jimmy was all but on top of the tire.

While he did violate NASCAR rules, this is being way over dramatized. Not only in the garage, but in the media as well. The caution would have come out anyway. Period. So get over it, it was coming. Instead of nailing this guy’s ass to the wall, grow a pair and at least show a little thanks as this situation could have been much, much worse. If you want to hang someone out to dry, the tire shouldn’t have been in that situation to begin with. But things happen. The tire got away, a car knocked it and sent it rolling, and there you have it.

Quit busting this poor guy’s chops over it. It was reckless, yes, but it was also a self-sacrifice to potentially save someones life. It didn’t come to that, but it could have. Something which was unknown until he was well across the infield.

Update: March 10th, 2009

“DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jimmy Watts, a crew member for the No. 47 team in the Sprint Cup Series, has been suspended from the next four races (until April 22) for rule violations during this past Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Watts was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 9-15-U (crew members must not go on the race track for any reason while the cars are racing or while the cars are running under the yellow flag or the red flag, unless otherwise directed to do so by a NASCAR official). Watts has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

In addition, Frank Kerr, crew chief for the No. 47, has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Sections 12-1 and 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of the team).”

You know what? That’s just fine. The potential loss of human life is worth it. Hold your heads high, guys. While there are always consequences for our actions, this is by far the lesser of two evils. Don’t listen to all the arm-chair crew chief’s out there, they weren’t there. Sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing to do, and the toughest pill to swallow. Had Jimmy not went after it, and something happened, they would have been bitching that you guys sat there and did nothing. End result, they’re always going to bitch no matter what happens.

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Filed Under: Atlanta, Nascar, Tracks

Tagged As: Atlanta, Jimmy Watts, Marcos Ambrose



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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Saturday March 8, 2008
12:04pm CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.

Tony Stewart may as well have been using one of my favorite Dave Chappelle quotes.

Goodyear is f**kin’ up!

Tony just doesn’t understand it. Why does Goodyear overcompensate on the tires?

In an actual praise of the weather, being thankful that it’s cold enough at Atlanta today to compensate for Goodyear’s incompetence with their tire selection, Tony commented that the garage is just trying to get through the weekend.

Goodyear has changed up the overall composition and construction of the left side tires to provide more grip, but at the same time they’ve increased the hardness of the right side tire compound which removes grip.

It was also explained, and something I was unaware of, that Goodyear is bringing the same tires (at least for the right side) for both the Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series to use. In doing so, they went with a compromise where the right side tire is good for the Nationwide side, and something the Cup side “can live with”.

Tony Stewart made the remark that when you stroke a check big enough to NASCAR, you can have free reign with your product selection, even when that selection is junk.

Atlanta hasn’t been recently paved. It’s been 10 years, actually, so what is the deal here?

Bobby Labonte tested for Goodyear at Atlanta back in December, so what’s going on with this?

Are the engineers at Goodyear not competent enough to remember that during such a test the racetrack will be green, and therefore wear the tires a little harder than on a competition weekend? I’d like to think that’s not the case.

Are they overly paranoid of right side tire failures on the intermediate tracks?

Are they being cheap, and trying to get by with using the same thing all weekend?

Then again could it be that Tony’s lacking something in his car and laying out a case just in case his run at Atlanta, which happens to be the HQ of his sponsor Home Depot, is less than spectacular? Could it be a little bit of both circumstances? I will note that Tony Stewart typically runs quite well at Atlanta, and one could expect that whatever the circumstances he will adapt and overcome.

Tony Stewart has typically been the first driver to speak out about tires during a given weekend. Does the rest of the garage feel similar about the tire selection by Goodyear?

What bothers me most about these comments is this. These types of tracks make up the bulk of the NASCAR schedule. I’m also concerned because the next track of this type on the schedule is Texas Motor Speedway.

It’s been on again, off again for racing at the 1.5mile oval. At times the show is good, but at other times the show has been less than spectacular.

If you combine the elements of the new car, this apparent tire issue, and past history you’re heading into a big unknown for Texas Motor Speedway. If one were in the shoes of Eddie Gossage it would have to be at least a small concern in the back of your mind. It’s an SMI track, and the facilities are absolutely top notch. However, being the home track of Thunder Lounge, we can’t help but to be on pins and needles a little bit in regards to the show.

Last fall was a battle between Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson late in the the goings, and highlighted the quality of racing capable at the track. On the other hand, they have been many a strung out parade as well.

With that all taken into consideration, flip a coin. Head it’ll be a show, tails it will be a parade. That’s about as close to a prediction as you’re going to get. With the new car, competition should be much closer. Thus you could conclude that the parade won’t necessarily be a factor. On the other hand, with the tire issue being complained about by Tony Stewart, it could turn into a conservative “make it through the weekend” type of race.

Whatever the case may be, we hope the issues being complained of this weekend won’t be an issue when NASCAR returns to The Great American Speedway, leaving the show in the competitors hands.

Share your thoughts!.

Filed Under: Atlanta, Drivers, Joe Gibbs Racing #20, Nascar, Sprint Cup, Teams, Texas, Tony Stewart, Tracks

Tagged As: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Goodyear, Hotlanta, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Texas Motor Speedway, The Great American Speedway, Tire Issues, Tony Stewart



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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





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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Thursday October 25, 2007
5:05pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

There’s something that has been on my mind recently. It’s killing me, really.

We know that the dominoes have fallen, and that Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kyle Busch, and JJ Yeley will all test with their 2008 teams. That makes perfect sense given the fact that the Car of Tomorrow test at Atlanta will not really yield any information which will benefit teams for the remainder of the 2007 season.

So let’s keep that in mind for a minute as we ask the question: “Will Gibbs show up with Toyota’s?”

The test will be taking place this coming Monday and Tuesday, and is NASCAR’s way of trying to remove a little blindness going into the 2008 season and finally running the COT on a track longer than a mile. Talladega excluded, of course, but we’re talking about the staple of tracks on the schedule. The down force ones.

With the fact that there won’t be much to gain for Phoenix from this test, which is why you’re seeing drivers being allowed to test with a new team, could Gibbs bring Camry’s to the test? Maybe I’m off my rocker, and I’ve seen nothing even hinting to the possibility, but what do they have to lose? Loss of manufacturer support for 3 events? I doubt there’s anything that could save help them by then.

What is left is everything to gained from doing so. Anything that can be gained on 2008 is something to be cherished. Even with all the similarities between manufacturers with the COT, there are still enough differences to drive the need for information.

Michael Waltrip recently came out and mentioned to ESPN that Gibbs is a partial credit for his teams recent performance gains. Of course as soon as that hit the wire the Gibbs folks were in a full denial campaign. I’ll have to cry foul on that one. It is not believable that they haven’t touched a Toyota part, tested Toyota equipment, and at the same time discussed that information with TRD. It’s quite plausible that Gibbs hasn’t given up any of the really juicy details yet, but to think there has been no communication or preparation on Gibbs part is one of the biggest crocks of the year.

So, will they bring Camry’s, or won’t they? Could they pull a Bill Davis and try to mask it with a bowtie on the front?

2 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: Atlanta, Joe Gibbs Racing #11, Joe Gibbs Racing #18, Joe Gibbs Racing #20, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Tracks





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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Monday March 19, 2007
8:39am CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

Wow. Where did this week go? I have no idea. Last I checked it was Tuesday, and now it’s Monday already. This sucks not only for our dear readers, but for myself as well. There was a lot of issues I, of course, had comments for last week. However we’ll move forward and try this again.

So by now you know Jimmie Johnson went back to back, passing Stewart with a couple laps to go yesterday at Atlanta, and sailing off into the sunset. Not a huge surprise, but a feat worthy of respect with the closeness of competition these days.

Johnson also, as the title implies, helped to make first time NASCAR history. It started Friday night with Skinner, Jeff Burton kept it alive Saturday, and Jimmie sealed the deal Sunday. Of course we’re referring to the first time ever that all three of the NASCAR top series had back to back winners. Skinner won the truck race at Fontana, and Burton also won last weekends Busch race at Las Vegas. And you thought Montoya’s top 5 was something.

Speaking of things Ganassi, not a bad effort thus far in 2007. Too bad that heading into the final race of guaranteed starts from the 2006 owners points that Robert Yates can’t yet say the same. We’re not officially calling the struggle yet, but it sure is shaping up to be. But hey, they’ll always have the front row at Daytona. Right?

So while you’re probably more worried about your canned pet food at the moment, and I’m thankful I use the non-tainted stuff, there’s folks out there with much bigger worries on their shoulders. Toyota, for starters, and it’s even poorer than expected start to its Cup debut.

After Atlanta, in the 2007 Owners Points battle, the lone Camry in the top 35 is Dale Jarrett by a scant 18 points. Next comes Blaney at 45 points out of the coveted Top 35. One small positive note in all their struggles is Vickers. He’s the next spot behind Blaney and 75 points out of the running. He’s also missed 2 of the 4 races thus far, only making the show in Fontana and Atlanta. That’s translating to a positive how, you ask? To still be that close in the hunt, and only making half the events to date, it means he’s ran “respectable” in those two events on average. Something Dale Jarrett and Dave Blaney who have had twice the opportunities to score points can’t say.

Anybody seen the recent NAPA commercial with Sammy Hagar in the closet? You know, the one where Mikey and DJ are walking though the hall at “Michael Waltrip Racing” and you hear Sammy jammin out with the “slightly different” version of his classic “I can’t drive 55″. Then Mikey opens the closet door and asks if he could turn it down a little bit, and Sammy snaps right back with “Can you drive a little faster”?

Could this be the sign that NAPA is digging its heels in and trying to make the best of a start-up situation? That’s the way I see it, to use Tim’s line, and although the results are obviously less than they had hoped for they can still make due with some creative advertising. Every little bit helps at this point.

If things keep going the way they have been, Toyota better hope Vickers makes it in this week at Bristol. A decent finish could squeak him into the Top 35 for Martinsville, and he could end up the lone Camry in the show thereafter. We say thereafter since that could be, and most likely will be, the last time DJ is eligible to use the Champions excuse (er, provisional) this season. Having used 4 so far, the trend would be one more at Bristol and Martinsville and then with his trend in Owners Points he’d be on the outside looking in.

The only salvation for struggling teams at this point is that now it’s time to put the COT on the track to race. Some say that the playing field will be leveled with it initially. While this is true to some extent, since nobody has raced it in an actual event yet, you can still expect the cream to rise to the top. Your bigger organizations have been working on it for quite a while now, as they have the resources and capabilities, while smaller operations have had to put more focus on the first for races of the season.

One thing is for certain though as we head to the mountains of Tennessee. All bets are off.

Share your thoughts!.

Filed Under: Atlanta, Brian Vickers, Dale Jarrett, Drivers, Hendrick Motorsports #48, Jimmie Johnson, Michael Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Racing #44, Michael Waltrip Racing #55, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Team RedBull #83, Teams, Tracks





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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Friday February 16, 2007
1:44am CST
Published on Thunder Lounge.

In what was an inspirational day at Daytona for some, it was a heart breaker for others as they loaded their trucks to head for the house. Also, not a day without it’s controversies, and the underdogs coming from the back to live a dream.

First up in the day was Tony Stewart who lead the field to the checkers in the first heat. Strong in the field were several cars, but in the end nothing was in the way of that orange machine and finding victory lane at Daytona for the second time in less than a week.

Kyle Bush had a pretty good run, as did Jeff Burton although his finishing position doesn’t really show what the car could (or was) doing. Ah, the comfort of knowing you’re in the show. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for brother Ward.

This guy here, who’s had probably the worst 5 days in his life recently, maneuvered his way into one of the two available transfer spots in the 500, for a start just ahead of mid-pack. Granted the Red Army is going to be a little hot, when Waltrip spun Junior into the infield. Junior recovered for a top 5 in the heat. It wasn’t deliberate, and all was well between the two at the end of the event. A mistake was made, but all forgiven. Of course, had the outcome been different, who knows.

So now were on to the second heat. Duel #2, if you will.

With a winning dodge of Kurt Bush’s Dodge, who tried to block, Jeff Gordon again lead the field to the checkers at a Daytona event. In a less caution filled event than the first, the “controversies” were less, and although the racing wasn’t exactly boring, the drama was less than in the first. Up until the final few seconds, which saw Mike Wallace come out of almost nowhere to end up sliding into the 500 yet again.

With the factor between zero and hero being less than 3/10ths of a second in both heats, it was a nail biter.

Now we come back to Mr. Gordon, who will be starting the 500 from the 42nd position Sunday.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, you ask? Well if you’ve been under a rock this evening since shortly after the conclusion of the second heat, or perhaps trying to figure out why there’s two characters on your screen when you know darn well you only pushed the button once, you missed the #24 failing post race inspection.

Ah, but it goes further. Before some of you get up on your high horses, let the neutral opinion of Thunder Lounge interject. It wasn’t due to an intentional circumvention of the rules, meaning it wasn’t intentional, says NASCAR Director of Competition Robin Pemberton.

During post race inspection, the 24 came through the height sticks about an inch too low. This obviously called for further analysis, and Robin was even under the car a few times.

Here’s what happened. NASCAR, as we all know, mandates rear shocks and hands them out for installation. Well, the bolt that secures it to the shock mount failed. It wasn’t an illegal bolt, it either got cross threaded or whatever, and started failing. Read that as coming apart.

So the reason, as deemed by NASCAR, for the 24 being too low was part failure. However Robin said that since it was a failure which could have lead to serious safety incidences, that the 24 would be starting from the 42nd spot (tail end of that line) instead of the 4th position behind Ricky Rudd. No further penalties will be handed down, and the matter is closed.

What I don’t get, personally, is why a penalty for a part failure? When someone gets their front end, or rear end for that matter, knocked around and the templates don’t fit in post race, isn’t that a part failure in a sense? I mean, deification occurs, so a penalty for a part failure which wasn’t intentional (which is what they said) makes no sense to me. But, OK. Whatever.

So what this comes down to is that now a team can be penalized for a part failure? This could have an impact somewhere down the road. We’ll just have to wait and see.

2 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: Atlanta, Daytona, Drivers, Evernham Motorsports #19, Frank Morrison, Guest Authors, Hendrick Motorsports #24, Jeff Gordon, Joe Gibbs Racing #20, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Racing #55, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Press Releases, Scott Riggs, Teams, The Chase, Tony Stewart, Tracks





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