Sadler, Mayfield, Stewart, And Things To Come Before Homestead
Thursday, July 20th, 2006 11:30am 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/]Naturally this week the majority of discussion was centered around what was at first speculation of a move, and came to light a mere two days ago. However there was also discussion on Stewart, and some pondering on what else can possibly happen before we hit Homestead.
Sadler and Mayfield: Musical Cars.
[thumb:177:l:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/][thumb:185:l:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]First up this week was the rumors surrounding these two competitors. In what was initially sparked back last spring with rumors of Elliot Sadler’s unhappiness at Robert Yates Racing, it was a low murmur until Jeremy Mayfield piped up and publicly criticized his owner Ray Evernham for not being “around” too often and not helping fix an obviously broken team. Further, speculation increased last Friday when Michael Waltrip made the comment that he’d offered Jeremy a job if he was looking. The rumors spread like an Oklahoma wildfire with buzz about Mayfield to MWR, and Sadler moving into the #19 at Evernham.
This past weekend Sadler denied he had spoken to Ray. The rumors lost a bit of steam and the weekend continued.
Finally, while not “officially” announced, Marty Smith writes in his Last Lap column this past Tuesday that Sadler indeed was Evernham bound, and Jayski makes the comment that while it’s unlikely it is possible that Sadler could be popped out of the #38 as soon as Pocono.
While conversation around the water cooler was in part about these events described, it was also about wondering what was going through these drivers minds. Yes, Yates is struggling. They have been on a downward spiral for the better part of this decade. Even with Yates supporting Sadler and asking for the time to turn him into a champion, Sadler obviously can’t see any progress being made and is tired of hunting in the back for 20th. While the #19 is struggling, Evernham’s other cars are not. Kasey has 4 wins this season, and is right in the thick of the Chase battle. He’s been in it thicker than any Evernham car in previous years. Scott Riggs, while he’s a bit further back due to missing the Daytona 500, would be close to the hunt as well had he not missed those points. Something he will not have to worry about next season. Then there is Jeremy and the #19. After making it into the Chase the past two seasons, they’re fighting every week just to be guaranteed a spot in the show.
Sadler obviously sees potential at Evernham that isn’t present at Yates, and most likely won’t be for a while. This makes you wonder. During the struggles at Richard Childress Racing, the drivers constantly kept saying “Yeah, we’re struggling right now, but things are improving.” While many thought they were kind of nuts, their rebound to success this year is so far the performance story of the year. They aren’t sitting first in the points, but Jeff Burton is sitting in third, and in contention to win whenever his car hits the track. Along those lines, so is Harvick, and even Bowyer is running quite well. Although Bowyer is unfortunately overshadowed by Denny Hamlin, in any other year he’d be the rookie story.
So what’s the deal with Mayfield? It’s easily assumable that if indeed he moves to MWR’s #00 Camry, and reports have that as the plan for now, that he’s sees it as he can’t be any worse, but the potential, and the support he’ll receive will be second to none. In the end, that appears to be Jeremy’s desire. He needs that support from the owner and the team. Something he obviously doesn’t seem to feel in his current position. Obviously wins and being competitive are important, but you have to have that support base within the team and organization. That is what is built on to bring about the others.
Stewart.
[thumb:188:r:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]
Ok, Stewart gave a Million smackers to VJGC. Cool. Why is the press eating it up like Wonka Bars with Golden Tickets? It was money from his foundation, not from his own pocket, unlike Kurt Busch back in May. Yet, do you even remember reading much about it other than the casual mention then? This isn’t about the donation, but the way the press is covering it. The VJGC is important to so many people, and it is a wonderful cause. See it for what it is people, and let’s not hype it until Tony can fork it right out of his own bank account. He’s got more than enough. That would be a story worthy of this level of press. Unless you’re Kurt Busch, or so it seems.
Also in regards to Mr. Stay Puff, is the wondering about what in the heck he was talking about during his post accident interview Sunday. Was he delusional and suffering from the heat or what? His response had nothing to do with the question, and was well out past the left field bleachers.
Finally, will he be able to keep it together for 7 more races and make it into the Chase? The odds say yes, but with only two finishes better than 25th since Charlotte, one has to wonder what will come over the stretch to Richmond, and how many cries there will be for change from his fans if he indeed is on the outside looking in. They’re in luck, according to Brian France.
What Could Make This Possibly More Of A Sillier Season?
[thumb:366:l:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]With what was kicked off by Brent Sherman leaving the #49 of BAM Racing, followed by DJ, Vickers, Mears, Sadler and Mayfield, what in the world can happen next? You’ve got Spencer saying McMurray will get fired, Sadler saying that “you’d be surprised at how many cars will open up next year”, and to top it all off that just when you think it can’t get any weirder around the garage area it does.
What’s next? Jr to the Miller Lite car and Kurt back to Roush? Ok, not really. But so far that’s the kind of progression this Silly Season is headed to. It’s crazy, and it’s still heating up. I sure hope Fox is keeping track, because they’re going to need about 3 hours of pre-race coverage to make sure the casual fan is caught up on everything that’s happened in preparation for 2007.
Filed Under: Features, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Water Cooler
Trackback URL for: Sadler, Mayfield, Stewart, And Things To Come Before Homestead
Loading...
