Stewart, Stewart, And A Few Other Topics
Friday, July 28th, 2006 9:02am EDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
[image:365:r:s=1:l=http://thunderlounge.com/articles/nascar/features/the-water-cooler/]As we’re playing catch-up from yesterday, which was just one of those days we all have from time to time, we’ll jump right in and outline the conversations from around the water cooler. Naturally, just about anyone can guess what the hot topic of the week has been. In fact it’s so easy, even a caveman could figure it out. However, as a note, we’re out of the roast duck with the mango salsa.
Let’s get started, shall we?
Stewart. Aka: Mr. Flip-Flop, or “Flippy” for short.
[thumb:188:l:s=1:l=x]The main focus of the discussions with Flippy here have been covered in previous articles here at the Lounge. While I won’t rehash those, I will add a little to it that wasn’t really mentioned.
Conversation focused on his reference to the Intimidator, and how things would be different if he were still racing. The picture he tried to paint of Dale Earnhardt was a pitiful attempt at making an excuse for his actions. While Dale was definitely not afraid to ensure that things stayed in line, which saw many a competitor take a spin throughout his career, he would never have pulled the stunt that Flippy here did. It was completely uncalled for. He tried to paint himself as the next “Intimidator”, and keeper of the peace and respect within the sport.
We shall now raise the flag on this, as many of the Nascar fan base can be heard chanting the words of the flag.
You Flippy, are by far not even close to being Dale Earnhardt. You lack, and have failed thus far to earn the respect that Dale did. Dale would never be caught being the little disrespectful turd that you have. Dale was fair in his justice, which did sometimes come swiftly, but the response was more fitting to the reasons which caused it.
By our count, you’ve got 5 more Championships to win. And to bring you back to reality, Someone else out there has double what you do, and it in hot pursuit of number 5. You’re a little too big for your britches there son. If you need to look and see how true champions conduct themselves, feel free to look to any of the other champions currently competing, or recently retired. Any of them except yourself, that is.
Danica hath forsaken us.
[thumb:373:l:s=1:l=x]In what broke the hearts of many a male Nascar fan this week, Danica has opted to continue in the IRL for now, and has signed with Andretti-Green Racing for 2007. While this was most likely the best decision for her, you could hear the tears from the guys on this side of the fence. Ah, it was nice while it lasted.
The mutual opinion reached was that while this was the end of the speculation, most likely it won’t be the end for good. We all seem to feel that at some point in the not too distant future the Danica will indeed cross over to Nascar. While the time was good contractually this time, it just wasn’t the right time for her personally. She has goals in the IRL that have yet to be met, and one can only commend her strength and desire to ensure realistic attempts at making those goals reality.
Unleaded fuel debut.
[thumb:361:r:s=1:l=x]This weekend at Gateway, Nascar will unveil for the first time the use of unleaded fuel in competition. While it seems a long time in coming to some, it has been an on-going struggle for Nascar to be able to make the jump. However, as Yates has commented, the reason for the delay was finding a way to replace the internal lubrication that the lead provided. However, with the vastly improved coating techniques and quality of parts produced over the past few years, it’s finally a reality to see a motor running unleaded fuel be able to withstand the rigors of a lengthy run at Nascar’s top levels. We’ll see how it goes throughout tomorrow night and see what happens.
Hamlin is the real deal.
[thumb:164:r:s=1:l=x]What can’t we say about this kid that we haven’t already. Amazing. Simply amazing. We’re already talking about next season, and seeing how the Sophomore Slump goes. As it proves with many a rookie driver, the second full season isn’t always as pretty as the first full season. In fact, it’s a rare example. That doesn’t necessarily “doom” a driver to mediocrity thereafter, but the few who have seemed to manage continued excellence in their second full year have definitely gone on to much success.
Recent Sophomore Slumps have bitten Kasey Kahne, as well as Carl Edwards. Technically, this is his second full year in the series although he did not compete for top Rookie honors last season due to running more than 7 races in 2004.
Here’s to Denny and getting the job done, and hopes that he can continue and build on an incredible rookie season. He’s a good kid, and deserves it.
Yates and his mess.
[thumb:148:l:s=1:l=x][thumb:349:r:s=1:l=x]Well, what a mess. However, if anyone can figure it out and come out smelling like a rose it’s Robert Yates. While the possibility of Gilliland is met with some criticism, although it does make sense, what is being met with much more has been the possibility of Stephen Leicht being tapped to possibly fill the other seat. It has been discussed heavily, we mentioned it Monday and it was part of an article on Nascar.com on Tuesday or Wednesday, that this could be not only a bad move but an unfair one as well. It’s no doubt Stephen has talent, but it needs time. He’s only 19, and he has the time to be worked with for even a couple of years. He could even keep to the Busch Series for another 4 seasons, with a mix of Cup races sprinkled in, and still be a “young gun” entering the Cup Series at 23 or 24.
Tapping Leicht this early, while it could work, is ludicrous. It’s not fair to Stephen, not one bit fair at all. If he gets a seat with what is still considered a good team even considering recent troubles at RYR, and he fails to perform, he could very well end up the next Casey Atwood. Casey can’t even get a Busch ride now. All from being tapped too early, and not having the chance to expand his knowledge and hone is skills before meeting with the pressures of running in the Cup Series. And that was before the Top 35 rule and the Chase, which places even more stress and pressure on a driver to perform.
Gilliland on the other hand, being 11 years Leicht’s senior, is more of a reasonable move. The biggest thing circulating is that he’s only got 1 Busch Series win. This is true, and usually wouldn’t be a factor to make a move for tapping a driver if the driver were coming from a team with strong ties to, and backing from, a Cup Series team/organization. In this case, it’s the manner in which Gilliland earned that win. He was running in a non-Cup affiliated car, for a team that can’t afford to run the entire schedule. Not only that, the team builds their own engines, and they were at one of the “downforce tracks” so heavily tauted as highly technical venues. So before he even stepped foot in the car at Kentucky, he was at a major disadvantage. Disadvantages that were overcome with hard teamwork, and some fine wheelmanship. That is what has earned the attention and offers he has been receiving.
As a note while we haven’t discussed it yet, but it’s sure to come up today at first chance, is that this morning on Jayski he’s “hearing” things that Gilliland has signed with Yates. Apparently to be announced next weekend at Indy. We’ll see how it unfolds.
Finally on Yates, is the burning question in a lot of minds. “What about Ward?”
Indeed, Yates is ready to sign him, but apparently the issue is sponsorship. As covered by Tim Spencer in his column here (The Way I See It) this week, he takes this deal to the next level and covers the whole Yates deal and many other notes in regards to sponsor and team owner relations.
Summary.
Finally, as we head into the final off weekend for Cup, Kurt Busch is getting married, Jeremy and Shana Mayfield are moving into their new house, Ken Schrader is tearing up the dirt, and many other teams are relaxing in at least a slightly slower paced environment for a couple of days. As Indy looms on the horizon, who will be the next to kiss the bricks and get the infamous Victory Lane “stache” ? Could it be a repeat winner? Gordon? Harvick? Then again, could it follow in the steps of history that says that a driver that shines at Pocono has bricks in their future? There’s still 9 days to ponder that, and anything else that may come our way.
In the end, no matter how you slice it, Flippy’s still going to be Flippy, and the Boneyard is still going to rock.
Filed Under: Features, Nascar, Nextel Cup, The Water Cooler
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