Dale Jr, Yates, And Gilliland
Thursday, August 3rd, 2006 11:58am CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
If you’re new around here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
[image:365:r:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]This week was a buzz about Yates and their troubles, Dale Jr and his recent struggles, and the big topic of David Gilliland.
Let’s get to it then.
Dale Jr: Outside Looking In.
[thumb:162:l:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]What can one say about Dale Jr and his season so far. The varied opinion was just that. Varied. While everyone was agreed upon the fact that Jr’s last couple of finishes were simply bad luck, there were a few things that stuck out in that time that now has him on the outside and looking in.
The biggest thing on this is that his car was pure junk at Pocono. He knew it, and I’m sure you can recall his mention of it in post race interviews. It was such a heap, in fact, that even though Blaney ran into the back of him, he didn’t blame him for it happening. He simply said the car was junk, and just couldn’t get off the corner well enough to carry enough speed. Sure it was a racing accident, but in Jr’s mind, they shouldn’t have put themselves in that position.
While we all seemed to think that this is a temporary set back, we also agreed that it wasn’t a far fetched idea to see Dale Earnhardt Jr racing for 11th during the Chase. He’s going to need a handsome loan from the luck bank.
While this wasn’t discussed (yet), as it just came out this morning, Jeff Owens over on Scene Daily’s blog makes a damn good point. Comparing Jr’s 2005 season to 2006, he has the same number of top 10’s up to this point (8); one more top 5 finish (6 vs 5); and his average finishing position is 15.2 (compared to 18th). He also has a win this year, as he did last year at this time as well. In points he now sits in 11th, while last year he was in 14th.
There is a piece missing to the puzzle though. There isn’t any doubt that the past two races have killed Dale Jr’s average finish this season. However, it wouldn’t turn an 8.5 into 15.2. It could affect it a couple of points, but nothing extreme.
For the record, since we know someone will ask, through 18 races in 2005 Dale Jr had an average finish of 17.72. Through 18 races in 2006, his average finish was 12.11. A three point difference. Pocono was race number 20, and for those numbers we went back to prior to Loudon, where Jr’s luck went south.
That being said, Jr is still only marginally improved from last year, and it gets into the “slightly” improved category when looking at it through 20 races. However, you can’t plan on bad luck. It might be more of a realistic picture to take out the worst 2 finishes through 20 races from both seasons.
Regardless, they are not performing to expectation. Then again, it may just need some time to come back together, and shake out the jitters from 2005. However, if next season isn’t much better, I would say that Jeff’s point of exploring RCR is valid. That is, if Jr wants to seriously be a contender for the championship. Something we all know that Childress would make happen, to the best of his ability. Is it a coincidence that it just so happens that RCR wants to put a fourth car on the track in 2008? It could be perfect timing.
Robert Yates Racing: Panic Mode, Or So It Seems.
[thumb:381:r:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]So far, Robert Yates is having what would appear to be a miserable season off the track. To top it off, it’s miserable on the track. Still.
Let’s see here. So far off the track he’s had both driver’s bail for their vision of greener pastures, fired his GM (Eddie D’Hondt), and both crew chiefs we released as well just this past Monday. Robert leaves no doubt that he is taking the helm, and going to right the ship. He knows the battle. He’s been there before. Granted, it’s been a while. However, while some are counting him out, it isn’t a smart move just yet. The problems are deep rooted in the organization. It’s not something that can be fixed overnight, or over the remainder of the 2006 season. Although the actions and steps taken now will most certainly play a major role in the teams future.
Essentially, Yates is rebuilding from scratch. He’s rebuilding the foundation upon which the House of Yates sits. The discussions in regards to this were that the release of both crew chiefs were to further separate RYR from anything D’Hondt did. Although, we all seem to think that even though they were hired by D’Hondt, losing the capabilities of two veteran crew chiefs was a possible mistake. Then again, we all agreed that Robert Yates knows more than we do, which is why it’s Robert Yates Racing, and not “Insert Our Name Here” Racing.
In the end, the consensus was that while it may take some time, Yates will get it fixed.
Something must be happening, and we’ll find out some interesting news at their press conference scheduled for tomorrow at Indy.
David Gilliland. Is He Worthy Of The Attention.
[thumb:379:l:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]Many have tauted that a single Busch win doesn’t earn the proverbial “rights” to garner so much attention. Under normal circumstances, that may be the case.
There is a reason David’s been the recipient of so much attention from team owners. It’s not because he simply won a Busch race. It was the manner in which it was done. Let’s review.
Single car team, building their own engines, and running a part time schedule. No affiliation with anyone, and at the time not a true major sponsor to help foot the bills.
So, you take an average car, hit a decent setup, and put the rest in the drivers hands to battle it out with the Busch teams that not only have major sponsorship and funding, a lot have Cup affiliation. Not to mention the teams that actually have Cup drivers in the seat.
David smoked em. Not only that, at a type of track that requires a lot of preparation and technical expertise. We’re talking about a downforce track.
David beat them all, and it’s the circumstances in which that win came that has earned him the attention of Yates, Childress, Roush, and a slew of other teams.
As we, and most every other source on the planet, have mentioned it appears that David is on his way to Yates. Some have information from reliable sources.
Is it a coincidence that Gilliland was seen with Jack Roush at Martinsville?
How about the interview at Pocono as David exited the M&M’s hauler, eating M&M’s, and saying the he really liked them?
Is it yet another coincidence that Yates announced that David Gilliland would drive the #90 Busch entry this weekend at IRP as a “one race” deal?
Is it mere coincidence that Yates has a press conference scheduled for Friday at Indy?
Finally, is it yet another coincidence that this past Monday evening Clay Andrew Racing announced they were closing up shop, with hopes to return with yet another spectacular driver in a few years? They had been planning on several more races this season.
The last one alone tell you that David’s been signed.
Realistically, all the signs point to a Yates deal. We’ll find something out tomorrow. Although who knows what, officially.
The Summary.
In yet another interesting week of Nascar discussion, the prospects of the upcoming weekend at Indy, and the announcements already scheduled, looked to promise an extreme amount of topics for next week. The reality of it is yet to be seen, but the promise is there and something even a modest gambler would be willing to sink a chunk of cash on.
Filed Under: Features, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Water Cooler
Trackback URL for: Dale Jr, Yates, And Gilliland
Loading...
