Thursday Catch-Up: Elliot, Newman, And Some Other Items
Thursday, May 17th, 2007 10:21am CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
While the Wood Brothers obviously have high hopes for young Jon, according to the Atlanta Constitution-Journal they are facing the hard facts of life.
Bring out of the top 35 in Owner’s points, they’ve struck a deal that will see “Awesome Bill From Dawsonville” make a brief return to the series. In a Ford, obviously, which he hasn’t done since he moved from his own Bill Elliott Racing over to the #9 for Ray Evernham.
He’ll start with the Coca-Cola 600 a week from Sunday, and has also filed entry for Dover the following week.
The obvious advantage: 6 guaranteed races. With Dale Jarrett having burned up all his freebies, Elliott will make the show.
Provided Elliott gets it back into the coveted Top 35, and there are provisionals remaining, he could very well be the safety net the Wood Brothers have needed. It’s a long way to the Top 35 though, so who knows.
Hello, Newman
While still under contract with Penske Racing South, through 2009, the Winston-Salem Journal seems to think that Newman could be looking for a new ride. This coming at the time the #12 Alltel Dodge Pit Crew was wrapping up a win over the #43 team in the Pit Crew Challenge. Needless to say, it probably isn’t going to get any better as we roll towards Homestead, with just a race over the 2/3 mark remaining in the season. Oh joy.
Get Your Junior Gear Here…
Also, according to the Associated Press, while the so-called “experts” believed there would be a dip in the sales of red merchandise to the Junior Nation, this has yet to happen. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Sales have skyrocketed 107%, according to the report, but who knows if this is temporary or will hold up. Either way, someone’s raking in some cash.
Wrapping it up
So now we’re prepping for the All-Star race this Saturday. The trucks are back on track Friday night, and in a new twist for Saturday the crew chiefs will be running little roadsters around the 1/4 mile front stretch track before the other festivities begin Saturday night. Heck, that might be a pretty cool little show.
Filed Under: Bill Elliott, Charlotte/Lowe's, Dale Earnhardt Inc #8, Dale Earnhardt Junior, Drivers, Nascar, Nextel Cup, Penske Racing #12, Ryan Newman, Teams, Tracks, Wood Brothers #21
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At one time, Rocket Ryan was one of the top five hottest properties in NASCAR. I wonder if that has changed at all. Would you rather have Ryan or Junior as a DRIVER?
You would have to ask something like that, wouldn’t you?
That’s a tough call, really. I don’t think Junior is within Roger’s grasp, running Dodge’s, so that’s kind of moot.
Me personally, it would depend.
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that I had a team as strong as an RCR or Hendrick, and had a single open spot.
The call would be tough, very tough. Junior and Eury Jr would be a powerful combination is properly supported, not to mention all the additional “side-benefits” of fan base, sponsor, etc.
Then again, I wonder what Newman and a crew chief like Brad Parrot or Doug Richert could pull off. I remember a time not too long ago where a certain #9 Gain Ford was stinking up the Busch series when it hit the track on occasion. Brad was on full display with that, and with the right support it would be something to watch unfold.
Richert deserves a ton of credit as well. While Vickers hasn’t made all the shows, when he has he’s been pretty darn “racy” out there. Well, until lady luck cashes in.
Both would have their positives and negatives, for sure. However, I think I might just have to side with Dale Junior on that call. Although Newman, if really looking, would be a close second at the moment.
OK, back to writing up a nice comment response for you… heh heh heh…
While most would wish Bill and the Wood Bros more success than they have seen individually of late, I have to say, the Pundits are weeping.
And it’s not nice to Pee Off the Pundits.
Hmmm Jr or Newman?
Jr. with 17 wins, although not much to show in the last two years thanks to Ms. Entertainment Teresa.
Newman with a pasel of wins, mostly in a single year, but not much else (poles? Pffttt!) in an arguably better run organization at Penske than DEI (Don’t Expect Interest) has shown of late.
I don’t see an upside to Ryan.
Jr. is my pick. But then again, as a Pundit, I’ve been known to be far off the mark as the link above shows.
marc said this on May 17th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Well, you would think that since Bill ran with em last season a bit that it would be a safe bet.
I’d be wondering if DJ or UPS didn’t have something to do with it, maybe. Either that or Ford ponied up a lot of dough.
If Bill can get em in on speed, and get em caught up with a little cushion, keeping it shouldn’t be too bad.
I will say that I didn’t think that heading into the 600 that the point spread would be as slim as it is between 35th and 36th though.
From a purely astrological view looking ahead at the aspects, Jr.’s positive changes are in his personal life and career, as are Ryan’s. Jr.’s scope however, has quite a lot of chaos and uncertainty yet, through June 2008. Ryan on the other hand just entered his Saturninan return at the mid April and continues through Dec 2008. This is the same aspect that Jeff Gordon has in his life starting last summer. Gordon’s scope couldn’t be more perfect for 2007. I surely believe that Gordon will take the Cup this year and look for Ryan to take it next year, and Jr. in 2009. Ryan is certainly showing the changes in his aspects on point recently.
But then again, I was totally wrong on Jimmie Johnson. I could have sworn he would be eternally second.
**Yes, Luke…soon I will be back in the Thunder Lounge world. Ran the cows to BLM over the weekend:)
Clance' McClannahan said this on May 21st, 2007 at 10:40 am
Who the heck is this Clance character?
Any one? Cows? Huh? What’s a cow?
Gee Clance, and here I was thinkin you just didn’t like us any more.