2008 Sprint Cup Testing Schedule

By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.

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NASCAR recently released the 2008 Sprint Cup testing schedule, so here it is. Those taking notes will immediately notice some interesting tidbits coming up that differs significantly from previous years.

For the folks at home that may not keep up with the testing procedures and policies, these are the “official” tests hosted by NASCAR at Sprint Cup sanctioned tracks.

We already know about the first obligatory session. If not, it’s time to crawl out from under that rock. (That’s a joke, or an attempt at one, so feel free to laugh and at least make me feel better.)

January 7-9: Daytona Preseason Thunder (Jan 10th saved as a rain date.)
Teams finishing in odd numbered points positions in the 2007 Nextel Cup Series.

January 14-16: Daytona Preseason Thunder (Jan 17th for rain.)
Teams finishing in even numbered points positions in the 2007 Nextel Cup Series, plus new entries.

January 28-29: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

January 31- February 1: California Speedway

March 3-4: Phoenix International Raceway

May 27-28: Pocono Raceway

September 23-24: Lowe’s Motor Speedway

There you have it folks. That’s the “sanctioned” tests. Notable are the moving of Lowe’s to September, and the addition of Pocono in May. Last year it was Dover instead of Pocono, which was canceled due to weather.

Welcome to 2008, folks. It’s going to be a great year all around.

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Filed Under: California, Charlotte/Lowe's, Daytona, Las Vegas, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Phoenix, Pocono, Tracks





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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





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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Friday April 27, 2007
6:46pm CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

NASCAR isn’t like “Pro” Wrestling. NASCAR is like a woman. Free to change its mind at any time, for any reason. Oh, and they’re always right.

NASCAR had a change of heart, for the better, today when they called Mr. Flip-Flop Stewart to the hauler at 6am sharp this lovely Friday morning at Talladega. For the record, it wasn’t for Frosted Flakes, Cheerios, or my famous 6am Bloody Mary starter either. The conversation left Tony Stewart saying, “It’s a little tender for me to sit down right now.”

As well it should be. It should still be felt when you are fulling your obligations on the track Sunday as well.

Stewart, again, has also lived up to his [well deserved] Thunder Lounge nickname as well.

From Stewart…

Tuesday:

“The thing with the media is they think it’s our obligation to do those things,” Stewart said. “It’s a privilege that they get to (talk to us). That’s the way it’s always been. Maybe it is in some of these other guys’ contracts, but it is not in my contract that says I have to go do any interviews after the race is over.”

Friday:

“It is in my contract.”

Tuesday:

He said skipping the press conference was his way of getting even with NASCAR over what he considered unfair officiating.

“NASCAR is the ones that always ask us to go to the media center, so instead of doing what they wanted, they don’t do what we want to do and run the race fair,” he said. “So why would I go to the media center and make them happy?”

Friday:

“I didn’t realize it was a requirement that I had to go to the Media Center.”

OK, we’ll leave it at that. Either way, no matter the driver, the right thing was done by NASCAR.

The only remaining question is why Juan Pablo Montoya got the reminder through the wallet, for “greeting” someone he thought was a friend but it was live TV, yet Flip-Flop here did it to Johnson at Atlanta in March and Carl Edwards last summer at Pocono. Both were televised as well.

Hmmm. I wonder what’s up with that?

Sources, since someone will wonder:
NASCAR, NASCAR, ESPN, NASCAR, SPEED TV’s NASCAR Live.

2 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: Drivers, Joe Gibbs Racing #20, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Phoenix, Talladega, Teams, Tony Stewart, Tracks





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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Wednesday April 25, 2007
11:32am CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

Following last Saturday night’s event at Phoenix, Tony Stewart finished a strong 2nd. A position that 41 other drivers would have been ecstatic with. Well, not our ol’ buddy Flip-Flop here. Smoke was downright smoked after getting smoked with a dozen laps to go as he was passed for the lead which had only taken with a ballsy move a lap prior. It may have been a good points day, but according to Zippy [crew chief Greg Zipadelli] the team is feeling incredible internal pressure as they feel they should have had 4 or 5 victories this season but as a team haven’t capitalized.

Needless to say, Stewart left the facilities without a word to the media. He also failed to follow a NASCAR mandate where the top 3 finishing drivers have a mandated post-race media obligation in the media center, leaving his other two competitors (Gordon and Hamlin) to fend for themselves and answer “Where’s Tony” questions.

OK, so the guy was upset. We’ll give him that. He’d fought hard all night, and got beat. With a competitive nature that’s inherent in racers, it’s understandable to be upset over it. However, in the big picture he had a good night. Again, one that 41 other teams would have been thankful for if they couldn’t have had the top spot.

So enter the controversy with him ducking the NASCAR mandated post-race circus. With NASCAR being so focused on being in front of the media and getting attention, you’d think they would have threw a fit and brought down the wrath in the form of 12-4-A [Actions Detrimental To Stock Car Racing]. Yet, they won’t be doing so. Instead, they’ll be talking to Stewart and reminding him of his post-race obligations.

To be honest, we’re cool with that. But…

If this situation involved a different driver, usually one from the Hendrick camp, you would see the internet blasted with cries of favoritism and NASCAR conspiracy.

Since we like to pick on our ol’ buddy Flip-Flop here, we’ll make the cry for shenanigans just to stir it up a bit. Not necessarily because it’s a conspiracy. Just because 12-4-A is 12-4-A. Whether it’s tarnishing the image of NASCAR on the track during the race, pushing the gray areas of the law Rulebook, or making a “not so family oriented” comment (or gesture in Juan Pablo Montoya’s case) during an interview/media coverage; A violation which is “detrimental to stock car racing” is just that.

By blowing off the media, Stewart portrayed an “I don’t respect NASCAR” attitude. Whether intentional or not. Had he or any of the top 3 drivers jumped out of the car and been physically ill, and literally unable to meet these obligations that is one thing. But after a short 312 mile stint at Phoenix, and the “new and improved” fitness and health of Tony, he wasn’t dehydrated or anything of the sort. He was just flat out pissed, blew it off and we’ve seen nor heard any information to the contrary.

With his actions and portraying this attitude Saturday night, it indeed sent a signal to the media of a lack of respect for NASCAR. Intentionally portrayed or not, that’s the message received. A message that NASCAR doesn’t like, and responds with 12-4-A and a little monetary reminder that the driver needs them and not the other way round.

Montoya flipped a bird to someone he thought was a friend when horsing around, but it happened to be live TV, and he gets a $10k reminder. So disrespecting NASCAR by blowing off a mandated media gig post-race is less disrespectful to NASCAR and stock car racing? I don’t think it is, and so NASCAR has dropped the ball. Even if it were $5k, or half that, it would still be something. Although considering a bird cost $10k, $15 probably wouldn’t have been out of line. It’s not like he wasn’t aware of the surrounding circumstances, so it was deliberate.

As a NASCAR driver, you have a responsibility. Several, in fact. They just come with the territory, and it’s part of the job. Just like any other job on the planet, they all have certain responsibilities. From the fry cook at your local burger joint, to Steve Jobs running Apple (we like Apple, if you haven’t figured it out yet), to anyone else employed around the world. Whether it’s for someone else, yourself or whatever. If you have a job, you have a responsibility. You think the losing coach of the Super Bowl or the NBA Finals wants to sit down with the media after the game? No but they still do it regardless because it’s part of the job, and not every aspect of any job is always roses and happy happy, joy joy.

No matter which driver it is, the post-race media center interview for the top 3 is a known part of the job. From Derrike Cope trying to make a couple races a year, to Kevin Harvick, to Jeff Gordon, to Kenny Wallace and yes, even Tony Stewart.

Really there are two parties to question here. Stewart for blowing it off, and NASCAR for their response. Folks in the media that were sitting in the media center should have questions too. They had content to write for whomever they write for, and in general quotes from the top 3 are expected. So they were unable to deliver on that, so shouldn’t they have questions as well? Don’t they deserve an answer?

Could it be that Stewart was afraid he would say something “stupid” again, and have it follow him around in the media for weeks like his recent “retirement” comment at Texas? If that’s the case, it still doesn’t make it right and is no excuse. Any driver out there has been “groomed” for the media in one way or another. At the very least, they know to keep answers short if in a pressure situation.

Is it really that hard? For Stewart, who sometimes lets his emotions get the best of him, it certainly seems so. He does bring a passion and fire to the sport. The sport needs that. It needs passionate drivers, who aren’t emotional robots. It also needs drivers who are responsible enough to fulfill their obligations.

4 comments. Add your 2 cents!.

Filed Under: Drivers, Joe Gibbs Racing #20, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Phoenix, Teams, Tony Stewart, Tracks





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By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Sunday April 22, 2007
10:20am CDT
Published on Thunder Lounge.

With a win (finally, they’re saying) at Phoenix last night, Jeff Gordon accomplished several things.

First, he put win number 76 in the books which moves him into a tie with Dale Earnhardt on the all-time win list. Something that the team has been chasing since Chicago last July.

Second, he knocked Phoenix off the list of tracks where he had never visited Victory Lane. The “never won at” list is now down to two tracks, Texas and Homestead, which don’t appear to be coming off the schedule anytime soon. Next crack at either one will come in November, and if current season performance is an indication then Gordon may very well have a chance to scratch another track off the list. However there is still a lot of racing left to go.

Finally, yet another record/history entry as Jeff Gordon became the first person to win a Cup race at Phoenix from the pole. Speaking of poles he’s now at 59, which is a modern-era record.

So, onto the topic at hand. The competition has their eyes on Gordon, and rightfully so. You can’t deny the guy has talent. Early on, that talent was enhanced as Ray Evernham put together the “Rainbow Warriors” and they became a serious threat week in and week out. Earning positions on the track and on pit road, Jeff was quite the happy camper on the track. He was also quite happy and content off the track, which enhanced his on-track performance.

Enter a bitter divorce and an unhappy/distracting personal life, and it showed on the track. Coupled with set-up issues, and what appeared to be a lack in team cohesion, and it made for some tough seasons. Well, tough for a driver that had seen so much success up to that time frame.

Enter Steve Letarte. As Robbie Loomis stepped aside during the 2005 Chase, Steve Latarte stepped up to the challenge. Rebuilding the team that was once a threat every time the car came off the truck. It’s an on-going challenge, but thus far it has been successful. In 2006 Gordon saw a turn-around year. Performance was up across the board, and confidence and spirits were building strength within the team.

Hi there, Ingrid. As well known and publicized, Jeff met super model Ingrid Vandebosch, which turned into an engagement and finally marriage last year. Now, as a little racer is on the way, Jeff Gordon is happier than he has possibly ever been in his racing career. This is why the garage is watching Gordon. When he’s happy in his personal life, it carries over to the track.

Thus far in 2007, it certainly has. Add into the mix much improved communication within the team and between all of the Hendrick teams, improved R&D and engineering, and who knows what else is going on in the Hendrick stable, and there you have it. Not that Hendrick was having struggles. There’s thirty some teams out there that would “love to have their problems”. I’m sure Michael Waltrip and the rest of the Toyota camp would be quite happy to have those worries.

Gordon’s always been a streaky driver. Capable of popping off a few wins over a short period of time. The old momentum theory definitely applies to Gordon, and he’s building that momentum early on in the season.

Now where the Gordon fans may need to worry, or where others may find relief. Gordon looked to be on a much similar roll in 2005. That is until his rendition of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” should have been taken out with the trash, which in turn should have proceeded directly to the nearest landfill without passing Go and collecting $200. It was all downhill from there.

For the Gordon fans, don’t get discouraged. The team is much stronger, the support much better, and your driver much happier. For non-Gordon fans, you have your hope as well. However, the garage doesn’t seem to be taking any chances at this point.

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





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