Race Morning At Dover

Tires, Tires, Tires!!-Watch out for tires to be an issue today. Goodyear had problems in both the Nationwide and Camping World Truck races with tire wear and blown tires. Even though they were running two separate tires, the same tire used in the Nationwide race will be on the Cup cars today.

Dover Finally Upgrades Pit Road-Dover unveiled its new pit road this weekend and it's made a world of difference. In past races teams would have to share a pit stall with another team in order to get service. When pit stops rolled around the highest running team (of the two sharing a pit stall) would pit first then the other would come in once that team was done. It was confusing and unnecessary. Those days are a thing of the past. Not only does Dover have 43 pit stalls, they widened pit road by 4 feet and the pit stalls by 2 feet.

Richard Petty Motorsports Turning The Corner-Richard Petty Motorsports is getting better and better and it all starts with the motor department. After their struggles earlier in the season with engine failures, RPM decided enough was enough and made the jump to Dodge's R6 motor. Since then the performance and level of competition has increased. The biggest beneficiary of the move has to be Kasey Kahne. The 9 bunch was one of the fastest cars last week during the Coke 600 and if not for the rain this would have been one of the teams to beat. Look for Kahne and the rest of the RPM group to have a good day today.

Busch's Bad Luck Continues-Kyle Busch couldn't get out of Charlotte quick enough; the problem is his bad luck came with him. While leading the Nationwide race yesterday Busch was taken out of contention by fellow Gibbs teammate Joey Logano. The incident allowed Brad Keselowski to scoot by and steal the win. It didn't end there. Leading late in the Camping World Truck race Busch cut down a tire and hit the wall ruining yet another chance to win. Don't feel too bad for Kyle; he is the guy to beat today.

Truex Close To Announcing His Plans-Martin Truex Jr came out this week and said he is "real close" to announcing where he will be driving next season. Early rumors had him going over to run a third Stewart-Haas team for Tony Stewart and company; but now all signs seem to point to Michael Waltrip Racing. One factor that could weigh heavily on his decision is the fact that MWR signed his younger brother, Ryan, to a developmental deal a few months back.

Dover Is Fox's Last Race Of The '09 Season-Today's Autism Speaks 400 marks the end of the season for Fox and crew. DW will take the summer off while the rest of the crew will assist Speed and their broadcast for the remainder of the season. No more Boogity,Boogity, Boogity and no more Digger!! Can't wait to see TNT and their upgraded version of Race Buddy. Gonna be a great summer!

Caution On The Blog!!

Apparently some of you are having trouble accessing the sidebar items on the blog. From what I can gather you can access the blog but everything else is blank. If you click on "Search Blog" at the top of the blog it pulls everything up as if nothing was wrong. Hopefully, all of this will be fixed by eBlogger soon!

Thanks!
PB

Kyle Busch Continues To Hold A Grudge

Kyle Busch met with the media Friday at Dover and wasted little time weighing in on the recent split between Dale Earnhardt Jr and Tony Eury Jr. Busch told the assembled media point blank "it's never Junior; it's always the crew chief." The quote, along with others, stirred the pot in the "Busch Vs Junior" rivalry and once again showed that Kyle Busch has yet to give up the grudge he has towards the sport's most popular driver.

The question has to be asked; what is Kyle Busch's deal with Dale Earnhardt Jr?

We all know Kyle has animosity towards Dale Jr for being the reason he was forced out at Hendrick Motorsports and ended up at Joe Gibbs. His actions and candid quotes make him seem more like a jealous ex-boyfriend or a disgruntled postal worker rather than NASCAR's most talented driver. Kyle Busch must be Dale Jr's biggest fan because every chance he gets he lets the world know how feels about Junior and how absolutely consumed he is with driver 88's every move.

The feud between the two didn't start last year at Richmond; it actually goes back to the 2007 season. After being caught up in an earlier wreck during the Samsung 500 at Texas, Kyle Busch figured the car was totaled and decided to skip out early on the last part of the race. After Kyle was nowhere to be found, Junior was asked by members of the 5 car to hop in and finish the race for Alan Gustafson and company. The ironic thing about it is that Busch was the reason Junior was available in the first place. Busch got into the back of Junior and spun him out while he was trying to avoid Tony Stewart's spin in front of him.

The simple gesture sent the stock car world, the media, and Internet into a frenzy. A few months later Dale Jr announced he was leaving DEI at the end of the season. With Dale Jr now a free agent, Rick Hendrick opened the bank and made room for him at HMS. The move signaled the end for Kyle Busch at Hendrick and built the groundwork for Busch's grudge towards Junior.

Since then Busch has never missed out on an opportunity to bash or criticize Dale Jr. Even after his win earlier in the year at Bristol, Busch found time to call out Junior and his loyal followers. Busch made the comment that he would rather win races than sell the most souvenirs or have the most fans. The quote, intended to rattle Junior and his team, went unchallenged and stirred the fans and media up more than anything.

Even though Kyle Busch has won 9 more races (than Junior) since switching to Joe Gibbs Racing, Busch would love nothing more than to go head-to-head with Dale Jr and beat him. The only problem with that is Dale Jr and company has not been able to get to that level and be as competitive and as fast as the 18 bunch. To fill the void of an absent on-track rivalry Busch uses the media to beat down Dale Jr. He may think he is like Dale Earnhardt Sr on the track, but in reality he is more like Darrell Waltrip off of it when it comes to his mouth.

Look, we all know Kyle Busch has a world of talent. He drives with intensity and has one thing on his mind at all times and that is to win every race he enters. On the flip side, it's a shame to watch someone with so much talent and ability be so consumed with a driver who could care less what he thinks or what he does.

Kyle Busch needs to be careful what he wishes for. If this thing with Dale Jr turns around and he starts winning races and championships before Busch does it could hinder his career and perhaps his legacy. If his approach and tactics backfire, Kyle Busch might be known as the driver who woke the sleeping giant rather than the driver who won races and championships in all three of NASCAR's top divisions.

The "Big One" At Dover

Elliot Sadler gets spun and the field has nowhere to go

A Look Back At The First Third Of The Season

Biggest Surprises
Tony Stewart-Let's be honest we knew Stewart-Haas Racing was going to be good, just not this soon. Tony Stewart made all the right moves and surrounded himself with the best people he could find. The addition of Darian Grubb as crew chief, along with the Hendrick Motorsports alliance, was nothing short of brilliant. This team continues to get stronger and is a legitimate contender for the championship.

Ryan Newman-Even as dismal as the year started, this team found ways to get better and has become as consistent and as solid as their teammate. Even though they've used pit strategy to get them in a position to win a few times, this team found ways to stay up front. If not for getting caught up in wrecks at Talladega and the All-Star Race this team could have easily found themselves in victory lane.

Mark Martin-The rejuvenated and ageless Mark Martin has silenced all critics by coming out and racing like a young gun rather than a 50 year old man. His win at Phoenix made him the oldest driver to ever win a race during the modern era. A couple weeks later Martin found himself in victory lane once again at the Southern 500 at Darlington. If not for bad luck earlier in the season this team could be right up there in the hunt for the point lead.

David Reutimann-On paper it appears the 00 bunch backed their way into a win at the Coke 600; it couldn't be further from the truth. Even though the team was on a bit of a slide coming into Charlotte, Reutimann and company had become one of the most improved and consistent teams of the first part of the year. For a guy who started 2008 in one MWR car and finished in another, it speaks volumes about this team's ability to adapt and run up front.

Biggest Disappointments
Dale Earnhardt, Jr-It goes without saying that this team has officially hit rock bottom. From pit road mistakes to horrendous set-ups, this team is lucky to be in the top 20 in points. Even though it appeared the two "Juniors" were stuck with each other, Rick Hendrick has recently come out and said that changes are coming. Those changes better come quick before it's too late to turn the season around.

Kevin Harvick-Things had gotten so bad with this bunch that Richard Childress had no choice but to split up the successful duo of Todd Berrier and Kevin Harvick. Now, almost a month later, the crew swap has yet to bring the spark Richard Childress and company had hoped for. It's not just the 29 team; the other RCR cars are struggling as well.

Carl Edwards-Looking to build off the success of last year's run at the championship, this team has yet to show the championship form it had during the '08 season. The panic button hasn't been pushed yet because no one really knows what's holding this team back. With Dover and Pocono on the horizon, it could be the jump start to the championship run everyone expected this team to have.

Rain Shortened Races-There wasn't much you could have done to save the Coke 600; but the decision to call the Daytona 500 just after halfway was ridiculous. The biggest race of the year should not be shortened due to weather. They don't call the Super Bowl after the 3rd quarter so don't call NASCAR's "Super Bowl" just after half-way. Its not fair to ask the fans to shell out big bucks for tickets and then give them just a little over half of a race. Quit listening to the TV producers and give the fans what they want...a full race!!

Best Race
Aaron's 499 At Talladega-Even though the "big one" happened during the first 10 laps, and another big wreck in the last 15, the Aaron's 499 still managed 57 lead changes among 25 drivers. Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards delivered one of the best final laps in the history of the sport. With NASCAR in a bit of a stall, Talladega came along and delivered intense and spectacular racing and helped bring the sport back into the national spotlight.

Worst Race
Food City 500 At Bristol-Goodyear's choice of tire, the most recent repaving job and the track's decision to go to progressive banking has all but killed the racing at Bristol. At first it was thought that multiple racing grooves would be good for the track; in reality its made it harder to pass. Kyle Busch dominated the race by leading 378 of the 500 laps en route to his second victory of '09. The Food City 500 was one of the worst races the track has seen in years.

Best Paint Scheme
Jimmie Johnson's Memorial Day Salute Paint Scheme at the Coca-Cola 600


Worst Paint Scheme
Robby Gordon's findmespot.com Paint Scheme at Bristol


Best Part of Television Broadcast
HotPass on DirectTv-For the lucky ones who happen to be DirectTv Customers you know exactly where I'm going with this. Starting with the 2009 season DirectTv gave customers its NASCAR HotPass package for free. HotPass takes the television broadcast to another level by giving viewers in-car cameras and access to team communications. Even though its hard to hear the spotter chatter over the TV broadcast, its still a great way to watch a race. Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt, Jr, Kasey Kahne, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have all been featured on HotPass. Its the closest thing to being at the track and having the Sprint FanView in your lap.

Worst Part of Television Broadcast
Digger-Enough said....

What Would The Fans Suggest At Tuesday's Meeting?

By now we've all heard NASCAR has called a 'town hall" style meeting for owners and drivers Tuesday at the Research and Development Center in Concord, NC. The purpose of the meeting is to give drivers and owners the chance to openly debate what is good and what is not so good about the current state of the sport. The media, team members, crewman and industry executives are not allowed at the meeting.

Just last week The NASCAR Stimulus Package was unveiled here on The Spotter Stand to give NASCAR a few ideas that might help boost and re-energize NASCAR's top series. We all know the drivers and crews make the "cars go 'round" but it's the fans that drive the sport. Speaking on behalf of the fans, and building off of last week's blog, here a few more ideas and areas that NASCAR might want to consider during Tuesday's meeting.

Hire "Humpy" Wheeler-Is there a better promoter or anyone better at generating race day hype? The answer is no. Even though he wasn't at Charlotte you could still feel his presence and see his influence. With the sport desperately needing a kick start, who better to bring in and shake things up than Wheeler. His innovative ways and fan-friendly approach might be just what the sport needs to change the race day and race weekend experience. NASCAR might want to grab him before the IRL does.

Improve The Race Day Broadcast-The more you watch a broadcast the more disgusted you get. The "cheese"factor is at an all time high as broadcasters are left trying to fill holes left by boring racing. Broadcasters need to be more critical, more in-depth, and more realistic at how they call a race. Fans don't want to hear sappy story lines they want realistic and critical analysis of what is going on. Don't give us Digger, give us inside access.

Go "Side By Side" During Commercials-The IRL figured it out a long time ago; give the fans every lap of the race even during commercials. The only way you get that during a NASCAR broadcast is if you happen to get HotPass on DirectTv (and everyone doesn't have DirectTv). All too often fans lose interest during the race. If they lose touch with what's going on they often times walk away and hope to catch the tail end of the race. By going "Side by Side" you give fans the chance to catch all of the action even during commercials. With ratings slumping week in and week out it might be a good idea to find a way to keep people watching. "Side by Side" gives you that chance.

Improve The Quality Of Racing-Last week we touched on the idea of double-file restarts and implementation of a halftime break; but it's the technical side of things where the most can be done to improve the quality of racing. Bottom line...changes need to be made to this car to allow for better passing and ultimately better racing. Maybe it's the wing; maybe it's the nose; whatever it is it needs to be changed. This car was supposed to level the playing field so that on any given day 20-25 drivers would have a shot at being competitive ultimately putting them in position to win. However, the cream has risen to the top and the powerhouse teams have quickly adapted. Engineering has taken over and traits from the old car are becoming more and more prevalent. Clean air is the most coveted part of race day and once a guy gets out in it, he is gone. Let's fix the car so that we can fix the racing.

Give Firestone And Hoosier A Shot-Teams and drivers won't come out and directly say it, but the tire Goodyear continues to bring to the track is wreaking havoc on the set-ups. Maybe it's time to let another tire company come in and give teams a second or third choice. It couldn't hurt. Maybe a little competition is what Goodyear needs to get their act together.

Limit Cup Driver Starts In Other Series-As fans we all love watching the"big boys" race on Friday or Saturday night. It makes for great racing and increased ticket sales. As sad as it sounds, the time has come to limit the starts a Sprint Cup driver can make in the Nationwide and/or Camping World Truck Series. For the sake of ticket sales you've hindered those who are out there racing to pay the bills and put food on the table. I'm not saying totally stop Cup drivers from racing, but let's limit how often they run. Let's also not award them points if they aren't running for a championship. Plus it would be nice to see what the future of racing looks like when everyone is on a relatively level playing field.

Look, we all know the sport is struggling; the attendance and ratings support that. The panic button hasn't been pushed yet, but apparently someone has their finger on it. It's become crystal clear to the higher-ups that changes must be made or else the sport runs the risk of losing their fans and their foothold in mainstream America. By the looks of this meeting, it's a scenario the sport can't afford to encounter.

Let's Go Racing!!

Thanks to all those who died serving for our country and fighting for our freedom. It's your ultimate sacrifice that allows us to enjoy a day such as this.

On behalf of The Spotter Stand...Thank You!!

Moving To NASCAR Could Be A Big Mistake For Danica

Once again the Danica Patrick to NASCAR rumors have started to heat up. What makes this year different from those in the past is this time those rumors seem to have taken on a more serious tone. From all indications Danica, who is a free agent after this year, has done all she can do in IRL and is seriously considering making the jump from open wheels to fenders and bumpers. On paper the move seems to be a safe one, but realistically it's a move that could ultimately damage her career in the long run.

A move of this magnitude has nothing to do with her gender or even her talent level. It does, however, have everything to do with performance, meeting expectations and her ability to adapt to the nuances of the Sprint Cup Series. Ask Dale Earnhardt, Jr what happens when you are expected to win and you end up struggling and fail to meet expectations.

Finding sponsorship will not be a problem for her. Sponsors and corporations will fight for the chance to get on board and get on the hood (let's not forget she already has ties to godaddy.com and Motorola). Finding the right team; that will be her biggest obstacle.

With the powerhouse teams of Hendrick, Roush-Fenway, Childress and Gibbs locking down their lineup as we speak, aligning herself with a solid team right out the gate will be quite a challenge. Signing with a team that might not give her the ability to grow and compete right out the box could be career suicide.

If Danica is really serious about coming to Cup then she needs to take a good, long look at those who have come before her; Paul Tracy and Jacques Villenueve were "can't misses" but missed anyway; Sam Hornish, Jr is just now getting the hang of things; and Dario Franchitti was fortunate enough to crawl back to IRL after his cup of coffee in Sprint Cup was nothing short of disastrous.

Perhaps the best advice came from three-time reigning champ Jimmie Johnson. Johnson welcomed Danica's move to NASCAR, but not until she is ready. Johnson went on to say that Danica needs to stay in the IRL for a few more years and run ARCA, Camping World Truck and Nationwide races to gain experience. It's there, in those series, where she will know if she has what it takes to be a Sprint Cup Driver.

Until she decides the questions and rumors will continue to haunt her. If she wants to do this the right way then she can't jump at the first opportunity that comes her way. The hype will eventually fade and her performance will take center stage. It's why there is no middle ground in regards to her decision. She will either fail or be a success. If her IRL career is any indication, then she better hope the move to NASCAR is more of a career boost than a career killer.

The Rumor Mills Are Cranking Up

It's still a bit early, but the rumor mills are starting to heat up regarding the 2010 season. With high-profile rides at a minimum drivers are starting to make their decisions earlier and earlier. When it comes down to it, the decision of two drivers will dictate the landscape of the upcoming silly season.

The hottest rumor has Martin Truex, Jr leaving Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing and signing on to drive a third Stewart-Haas car with Bass Pro Shops as the primary sponsor. With Chevy and Bass Pro Shops not wanting to part ways with Truex (and Bass Pro Shop's World Of Outlaw relationship with Tony Stewart) it just seems like a natural fit.

The talk during the All-Star weekend was that Dale Earnhardt, Jr was going to move his Nationwide team up to Sprint Cup and tap Brad Keselowski as his driver. This would satisfy Keselowski's request to stay in the Hendrick family and keep him from testing the free agent waters; but there are a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out before this could happen.

With the "Team Cap" going into effect in '10 Rick Hendrick would have to sell his stake in JR Motorsports in order to comply with the rule. This would simply be a formality and a small obstacle standing in their way.

However, If Dale, Jr fails to pull the trigger on this deal Rick Hendrick will have no choice but to "loan" Keselowski out to Stewart-Hass Racing until a seat opens up in one of the four primary Hendrick rides. This could ultimately leave Truex out of the mix at Stewart-Hass Racing and send him back out into the free agent pool.

Apparently Joe Gibbs is flirting with the idea of adding a 4th team to his powerhouse stable. Truex would be a good fit here because he brings sponsorship, but word is Kurt Busch and Juan Pablo Montoya are the hot names to fill the seat. Last year Montoya came close to signing with Gibbs to replace Stewart, but JGR decided "the future is now" and put Joey Logano in the 20. If JGR decides to add a 4th team Montoya would be a logical choice considering how close he came to replacing Stewart.

Personally, I don't see Kurt Busch leaving his ride at Penske Racing. Even though Dodge is going under, Penske will most likely make the move to Toyota and could even add a 4th team with Justin Allgaier as the driver. This would strengthen his organization and allow him to compete with the other powerhouse teams.

Finally, the one organization with the most to lose in the "Team Cap" rule is Roush-Fenway. The odd man out seems to be Jamie McMurray. However, Roush-Fenway's alliance with Yates Racing may be the next stop for the driver of the 26 car. Roush has no ownership stake in Yates Racing only an engine and chassis alliance. Roush could keep McMurray under contract and simply loan him to Yates thus complying with the "Team Cap" rule.

Just like in silly seasons of the past, when one domino falls the others quickly follow suit. The biggest domino this silly season is easily Brad Keselowski. The talented young driver is a hot commodity and is being sought after by a lot of big name teams. Hendrick has some big decisions to make and the clock is ticking. If he waits too long it will be too late. It's this very reason silly season will come early this year.

The NASCAR Stimulus Package

Watching the first four months of the season unfold it's obvious NASCAR is feeling the ill effects of an economy gone bad. It's not their fault that people can't spend money on tickets and souvenirs like they could some 3 or 4 years ago. With sponsorship dollars down and the financial problems of GM and Dodge hanging over their head, NASCAR has done an admirable job of simply hanging on.

Yes, people still come to races and people still buy souvenirs, but the excitement and popularity that NASCAR once had has slowly dwindled away. Now, more than ever, would be a great time for NASCAR to consider making drastic changes to its current set-up.

Here are just a few ideas to boost and help re-energize a sport once thought by many to have the capability of competing year in and year out with the traditional "stick and ball" sports. Here at The Spotter Stand we proudly introduce The NASCAR Stimulus Package.

Regional Racing-Economically this makes a lot of sense. Instead of starting the year in Daytona and then turning around and traveling out to Las Vegas and California lets work on keeping the races in a regional setting as the year progresses. For example, after Daytona the series could then head to Homestead. After Homestead the series could make an east coast swing through Charlotte, Bristol, Richmond and Martinsville. After the east coast swing head down to Atlanta and then on to Talladega and once the southeastern swing is complete head over to the mid-west and then out west. This would save teams money and could help free up finances to do more testing, put better equipment under a driver, and even pay crews competitive salaries to keep talent around or bring better talent in.

Shorter Races-With TV ratings down and attendance dropping, NASCAR needs to look at shortening races to keep fans interested in each race. Spending 4 hours watching a race unfold is not very appealing. As fans we all hope for that exciting ten-lap dash for the cash or an intense green, white, checker finish that has everyone buzzing the next day. Sadly, the first 2-3 hours of a race have become so uneventful that people turn the race off and ultimately miss the finish. Shortening a race to 300 miles or 300 laps instead of 500 would be just long enough to keep the intensity up on the track and the fans in the seats from green to checkers.

Halftime-Each major sport has a built in rest period that allows teams a chance to adjust for the final part of the game. This is something NASCAR might want to take a good, long look at. How many times have you watched a race and your favorite driver spends 100-150 laps struggling through minor changes hoping the car will come to life? With a halftime break of 10 to 15 minutes teams can look at notes, chat with teammates and then make the necessary changes to the set-up to make the car competitive for when it counts. Just look at how exciting the last segment of the All-Star race was when 15 cars were fighting it out for the win instead of 2 or 3.

Double File Restarts/Caution Laps Don't Count-The IROC, Bud Shootout and All-Star Race promoters have it figured out. Instead of lining up lead-lap cars on the outside with lap cars on the inside (basically in the way) NASCAR needs to let guys line up double-file according to position. With the Lucky Dog in play lap cars now would have a chance to race each other without the risk of taking out the leaders.

Another way NASCAR could tweak the yellow flag period would be not counting caution laps. Using laps during a caution period goes back decades, but now days its taking way too long to clean up wrecks and blown motors and it's not fair to the fans who pay to see a full race at the track. Those fans, more so than those at home, travel to the track and drop hard earned money at the track and they deserve to see a full race start to finish. They don't deserve to see cars ride around for 5-8 laps while the safety crews clean up and load up wrecked race cars.

Bring Back IROC-As difficult as it sounds, bringing the best race car drivers in North America together for essentially a continental all-star race could really boost Saturday ticket sales for both NASCAR and IRL racetrack promoters. Who wouldn't want to see Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon, Ryan Briscoe, Jeff Gordon, Scott Pruett and the like in equally prepared cars at different types of tracks racing to see who's the best of the best.

When I was a kid there was nothing better than an IROC race at Talladega. Dale Earnhardt, Sr going up against Davey Allison, Al Unser, Jr, Emerson Fittipaldi and Steve Kinser was worth the price of admission. There's just something about the best of the best flexing their muscles and showing what they got without any points on the line. Those were the good ol' days....

Clip of The Day

Gordon, Newman and Busch Get It On And Get The Fans On Their Feet

Jeremy Mayfield: A Lightning Rod For Controversy

The soap opera that is Jeremy Mayfield has apparently taken another turn for the worse. This time the doctor who administered the test has come forth and disputed Mayfield's claim that he was never told what drug he tested positive for.

Dr. David Black, chairman for Aegis Sciences Corporation, stated that he told Mayfield exactly what he tested positive for at least once. Black went on to say that Mayfield's claim that he failed due to a mixture of over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs is inaccurate and impossible.

The reason for Mayfield's suspension may be a surprise to him and his fans, but the fact that he's once again at the center of a major NASCAR controversy isn't surprising in the least bit.

While racing for Roger Penske, Mayfield was let go late into the '01 season because he and Penske had a spat over claims that Penske was showing favoritism towards Rusty Wallace.

That paled in comparison to what happened during his time with Ray Evernham.

Even though Mayfield found victory lane and made the Chase on two separate occasions, the relationship began to sour after poor performances led to claims by Mayfield that Evernham was spending less time at the shop and the track and more time with developmental driver Erin Crocker. Mayfield was eventually fired and quickly filed a lawsuit over breach of contract. The two settled out of court and went their separate ways.

Is it really that surprising that Mayfield is once again at the center of controversy and drama? If you look at what happened with Penske and Evernham they all share one common theme; it's someone else's fault.

Plain and simple Jeremy Mayfield is in denial. The chip on his shoulder has become too much to bear and Mayfield's found comfort playing the role of victim. The more he talks about his suspension the guiltier he looks. It's why NASCAR is keeping quiet and he's not. It's also why Jeremy Mayfield is once again on the outside looking in.

One Final Look Back At The All-Star Race

Burnout Challenge Has Mixed Reviews-NASCAR's version of the home run derby is creative but needs a little bit more pizzazz. Unless you are sitting on the frontstretch you really can't see what's going on. If you happen to be seated in turn 2 or on the backstretch you're lucky if you can hear the car or see the smoke. The beauty of the MLB home run derby is that it captures the attention of the nation and the media. It sells out the host stadium year in and year out and people stop what they are doing to watch it. NASCAR needs to create an event that incorporates and showcases the talents of both the drivers and the crews. Having 5 or 6 guys do burn outs is a great idea if you want to fill down time, but that's about it.

Random Draw For Qualifying Almost A Disaster-NASCAR's idea to set the Showdown field by random draw was borderline ludicrous. Fortunately, Kirk Shelmerdine and Carl Long had to go to the back due to a wreck in practice and an engine change. As crazy as the first lap is, having two slower cars out front would have been crazy!

Did Anyone Else Find The Fan Vote Winner A Bit Fishy?-I don't doubt that Joey Logano has a lot of fans in his corner, but for him to win the fan vote was a bit odd. Martin Truex, Jr seemed to be a shoe-in to get selected if and when he failed to automatically move on. Personally I think Home Depot "found" a way to get him in the big show and get him racing at Lowe's Motor Speedway. There was no way Home Depot was going to lose that kind of attention and exposure.

First 90 Laps Quite Boring-Jimmie Johnson sat on the pole and absolutely stunk up the place in the first 50 lap segment. Once he got in clean air he was gone. The first pit stop of the night mixed up the running order as some took no tires and some took two. It was all about clean air and the first 80 laps showed that.

10 Lap Shootout Saves Night-By far the best non-plate racing of the year. The double-file restarts and decision to count only green flag laps set the stage for a wild finish. With all that money and prestige on the line, the racing went from boring and pointless to intense and spectacular. Maybe NASCAR should end every race like that....

Richard Childress Racing MIA Saturday Night-Casey Mears was supposedly in the All-Star Showdown. He finished 13th and was never a factor. In the All-Star Race the 33, 29 and 31 never got it going. Jeff Burton had motor troubles and finished 2oth while Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick struggled all night and limped home to a 12th and 15th place finish. The last few weeks have been a complete struggle for these guys. The only bright spot has been the 31's ability to take a bad night and turn it into a good one. Other than that these guys are way behind the other GM teams.

Charlotte And Surrounding Cities Put On A Great Show-With a two-week block of racing at their disposal Charlotte, and surrounding cities, give race fans tons of things to do. Whether its shop tours, autograph signings, meet-and-greets or souvenir shopping, fans in town for the races have endless opportunities to enjoy the center of the NASCAR universe. It truly becomes a two-week open house for the racing community.

The All-Star Race Needs To Have More At Stake

As exciting and thrilling as the All-Star Race is, it could stand to put a lot more on the line than just money. Maybe it's time NASCAR took a page from Major League Baseball and made the All-Star race more about the post-season rather than the money?

Let's be honest one of the most difficult things to do is to sit down and watch a Major League Baseball game from start to finish; but you have to admit when it comes to the mid-summer classic Major League Baseball has it figured out.

With lessons learned from the infamous "tie" during the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee, Major League Baseball was able to turn the once meaningless All-Star Game into one of professional sport's most exciting and important events.

By giving the winning team/league home field advantage during the World Series Major League Baseball ensured that the All-Star Game would no longer be a disappointment to its fans and pointless to its participants.

What if NASCAR put that much on the line during its All-Star break? Think how awesome it would be if NASCAR were to grant the All-Star Race winning team an automatic spot in the Chase.

For example, if Clint Bowyer wins Saturday night's All-Star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway he would automatically qualify for the Chase regardless of his point's position after 26 races. If Bowyer were to qualify for the Chase despite the All-Star Race win, Richard Childress could then use the (insert catchy name here) free pass for the next highest RCR team outside the top 12.

Talk about taking the concept of "Team" to another level. Think about how crazy the last few laps would be if 5-10 drivers and teams battle it out for an automatic berth in the Chase rather than a big payout. Don't get me wrong the money is great, but put a spot in the Chase on the line and you have the most intense 50-70 laps in racing.

It's bold and it's radical, but it has the potential to be exciting and intense. And with ratings and attendance slumping, a radical change in the format might be just what the doctor ordered as the sport heads into its most critical stretch of the season leading up to the Chase.

1987 NASCAR All-Star Race

Rick Hendrick And Dale, Jr Need To Cut Their Losses And Move On

Let's face it; the 88 bunch are not getting any better. The woes and mistakes continue to pile up race after race. He isn't a threat to win unless it's a plate track. It's obvious he's not going to make the Chase. He and his team are the worst of the Hendrick lot (that includes the 25). And he is no longer the face of the sport.

A move of this magnitude would definitely upset the fans, but they have already been disappointed enough. Sure it would upset the sponsors, but Hendrick Motorsports has plenty of drivers he can disperse the sponsorship to. Sure it would disrupt and distract the other teams at Hendrick, but these guys thrive on adversity so it's not really that big of a deal.

If you look at the flip side, the move does have its share of positives...

This would allow Brad Keselowski to stay with the organization rather than become a free agent. You could keep Tony Eury, Jr on as the crew chief and bring Lance McGrew over as the car chief/engineer. This takes all the blame off of Eury, eases the pressure he has on him and allows him to go out and do his job without Dale, Jr bearing down on him. More importantly it keeps him from being the scapegoat in this debacle.

With Dale, Jr out of a ride he can now focus on the things that everyone in the media says is keeping him from being a championship driver. He can sleep late, have a good time with his buddies on his go-kart track, play on the computer and focus on his restaurant/bar Whiskey River.

When Dale, Jr is ready to hop back in a race car he can switch his inventory at JR Motorsports over to COT bodies and chassis and race as a driver/owner. It's worked for Tony Stewart so surely it can work for him (that is if Dale, Jr can find the talent everyone says he's lost or never had in the first place).

He would have to end his affiliation with Rick Hendrick though. Maybe now everyone can get their wish and he can partner with Richard Childress and finally run the number 3. This would give RCR another team/partner thus allowing them the ability to keep up with the mega teams of Hendrick and Roush.

If all this sounds silly and ridiculous then you are correct; it is silly and ridiculous!! It's borderline crazy; but is it any more ridiculous than watching this driver and this team continue to fall deeper and deeper into despair with nothing being done to prevent it?

Sarcasm aside, it's time to get serious.

It's ironic that Hendrick Motorsports used to be known as All-Star Racing because right now that's what he's assembled. Take the 24, 48, 5, 88,25 and partner them with Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman and you have the sport's version of the Dream Team.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...there aren't enough steering wheels to go around. The problem with this Dream Team format is that one team always ends up being the weaker link. Take all those egos and all that talent and put them at one feeding trough and undoubtedly someone will go hungry. Thus is the case with car 88.

As "tongue and cheek" as all this was made out to be, maybe Hendrick parting ways with Junior (or the other way around) isn't as ridiculous as it sounds. What they have now isn't working. Major changes don't appear to be on the horizon so why not make a bold move and focus solely on what IS working at Hendrick instead of what is NOT working. It might be the only solution for this good thing gone terribly bad.

Race Day at Darlington

Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip Added To Legends Walk-Darlington Raceway honored two of the sport's legends earlier in the week when they unveiled two monuments honoring Yarborough and Waltrip. It was announced on Wednesday that the two men were being added to the Legends Walk located behind the front stretch tower in recognition of the track's 60th Southern 500. The 2,300 pound monuments were unveiled to honor two of the sport's most successful champions. Each of the driver's monument resembles a racing tire and an old style pit board.

Danica Talks Heat Up-Once again the "Danica to NASCAR" talks have heated up. It doesn't help that Patrick is in the last year of her contract with Andretti-Green Racing. Oddly enough, Patrick didn't really come out and shoot it down when asked during the week one of Indy 500 practice. She told the assembled media that it will be fun to see how it all shapes up. Honestly, I just don't know how she would fit in NASCAR. It has nothing to do with her gender it has to do with her temper and her size. Her confrontational style might not go over so well with the Kyle Busch's or Tony Stewart's of the sport. Not to mention these COT cars are quite a handful. It would be a huge adjustment and could be a career killer. Dario Franchitti (Indy 500 and IRL Champ) struggled in Cup and shamefully had to crawl back to the IRL. If she does make the jump it would be more of a publicity stunt rather than a big time free agent signing.

Johnson and Sorenson Going To The Back-The 43 will be heading to the back due to an engine change. It appears engine woes continue to plague RPM as another pre-qualifying effort is all for not as one of their teams has to change a motor prior to qualifying.

Joining Sorenson in the back will be three-time defending champ Jimmie Johnson. Johnson wrecked his primary car during his qualifying attempt and will start 42nd. It will be interesting to see how Chad Knaus and company handle this set back. These guys thrive on good starting spots and premier pit stall selections. Starting way back there could make for an interesting night.

Gordon Chasing History Again-With a win Saturday night, Jeff Gordon would tie Cale Yarborough for 5th all-time on the win list. A win would put him only one back of Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison who are tied for 3rd.

Stewart Down To Three Tracks- This weekend marks another rare visit to a track Tony Stewart has never won at. In 16 starts at Darlington Stewart has yet to find victory lane. Joining Darlington on the list is Las Vegas and California. Rockingham is actually the fourth track on the list but obviously the Sprint Cup Series doesn't race there anymore so it doesn't apply.

Labonte Gets A Birthday Gift From The Fans-On Friday Bobby Labonte got a unique birthday gift from his primary sponsor. Based on an idea submitted by Hilary Mathis of Illinois and with the support and suggestions of Labonte's fans, Ask.Com presented Labonte with a commemorative helmet Friday at the track. The helmet included a Happy Birthday message and the names of all those who suggested ideas to the search engine.

Darlington: NASCAR's Crown Jewel

Before there was the hype of Daytona or the cult following that is Bristol there was Darlington.

Built to rival the Indianapolis 500, Darlington's unique design and shape made it more than just a race track...it made it history.

Darlington is street cars plowing around on the black asphalt with the sand and dust particles flying up. Darlington is convertibles with the taped up roll cages flying around at nearly 150 mph. Darlington is crew members getting tires off the cars parked in the infield just to finish the race

Darlington is Richard Petty flipping down the front stretch with his arms flying out the driver side window. Darlington is the birth place of "Million Dollar" Bill Elliott. Darlington is history; Darlington is The Lady In Black; but more importantly it's "Too Tough To Tame"

For 60 years drivers have chased the track rather than chased the other drivers. Its shape and size force drivers to respect their surroundings more so than their competitors. Make a mistake here and she will bite you.

It's what makes "The Lady in Black" so special and so challenging. More importantly it's why winning here rivals winning anywhere else. It's the Fenway Park and in some ways the Augusta National of NASCAR.

Win here and you've accomplished something. Win here and you are apart of history.

Thursday's News and Notes

Kevin Grubb-First of all I would like to send out my thoughts and prayers to the family of Kevin Grubb. It's a sad ending to a sad story.

From all indications Grubb died as a result of a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head. No drugs, drug paraphernalia, or signs of drug use were present in the Richmond area motel. It simply appears Kevin had come to the end of the road.

Grubb was a fast-rising and promising talent in the Nationwide series. A failed drug test in 2004, and a refusal to take another after an early wreck at Richmond on '06, resulted in NASCAR's stiffest penalty...A lifetime ban.

At the time of the second test Grubb told officials that he was suffering from a concussion and was not in the right state of mind to make rational decisions. Sadly the damage had already been done and NASCAR had no choice but to stand firm on its policies.

Mark Martin To Run Full-Time In 2010-Speculation became fact on Wednesday when Mark Martin confirmed that he will be back in the 5 car full-time next season.

The bad news for Brad Keselowski is that Martin's decision leaves him on the outside looking in.

The plan was for Martin to run full-time in '09 and then share the 5 car with Keselowski in 2010. Martin's announcement now shuffles Keselowski out of the 5 car and into a potential free agent role. This makes things very interesting for Rick Hendrick and company because after this year an owner can run no more than 4 teams. With the 24, 48, 5 and 88 locked up that leaves Keselowski without a ride.

One theory has Keselowski going over to a third, newly formed, Stewart-Haas owned team. With Hendrick already providing engines and chassis to SHR, it would keep Brad in the HMS family so to speak.

Perhaps the strongest rumor has JR Motorsports making the jump to Sprint Cup with Keselowski as the driver. Dale, Jr has stated in the past that the idea of moving up to the Sprint Cup Series seems logical and smart financially. With the Nationwide series going to Pony Cars in 2011, Junior said it would cost just as much to convert his inventory over to Cup cars as it would to convert to the new Nationwide Pony Cars.

One thing is for certain, no matter how this unfolds Brad Keselowski will be a hot commodity come the middle part of this year when the silly season starts.


Gordon can make history at Darlington-If the 24 bunch can win Saturday night at the Southern 500 in Darlington it would be a historic night for the 4-time Champ. The win would be Gordon's 83rd career win and would tie him for 5th all time on the list with South Carolina native Cale Yarborough.

If Gordon makes it to victory lane it would put him 2 wins away from surpassing Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for 3rd All-Time in wins. Many in the racing circles believe that if Gordon can get hot he can work his way all the way up to 2nd on the all-time win list behind Richard Petty.

Who Is Going To Step Up And Help Dale, Jr?

The walls surrounding Dale Earnhardt, Jr have come crashing down. Driver #88 now stands alone with the weight of a struggling team on his shoulders and the rubble and ruins of walls that were once held up by wins, top fives, poles and popularity at his feet.

In a sport where kicking in doors, not taking "no" for an answer and making the most out of every opportunity pave the path to success, it's not hard to find someone willing to share the names of those who helped them along the way. The same can be said for a handful of drivers and team members who share one common thread...Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Martin Truex, Jr, Shane Hmiel, Shane Huffman, Brad Keselowski and T.J. Majors (Dale Jr's Spotter) are where they are today due in large part to Dale Earnhardt,Jr. Each needed someone to give them a big break; each got it from Dale, Jr.

Dale, Jr needs that same break. He needs someone to think outside the box, get rid of the negatives and build on the positives. If you think that person may be Tony Eury, Jr then you are sadly mistaken. If the two haven't clicked by now then don't hold your breath thinking its going to change.

The problem with Eury, Jr isn't so much his work ethic, it's that the sport has passed him by. The new car, the ever-changing Goodyear tire, and his inability to figure out front-end geometry have pushed this team and its driver deeper into a hole.

The only way Junior can climb out of this hole is for someone to step up and give him the same amount of help and the same big break he has given out to others for years. Let's be honest, this is past the point of being the fault of the two "Juniors." This squarely falls on the shoulders of the man bearing the company name...Rick Hendrick.

Richard Childress didn't hesitate to make drastic changes. He split up the successful duo of Todd Berrier and Kevin Harvick two months into the season. The two were struggling and he made a change. No trial period. No extra time to work it out. No excuses. He pulled the trigger before it was too late.

Junior left DEI because he wanted to win races and contend for a championship; but most importantly he left DEI because he didn't want to drive for an absentee car owner anymore. He wanted to drive for an owner who was hands on and completely dedicated to the team and to the driver.

If Rick Hendrick is satisfied with how this team is performing and thinks that "time" rather than "change" can bring the 88 out of this slump then he is not the owner Dale, Jr thought he was.

2003 Darlington: Craven vs Busch

The funny thing about this race was the local Fox affiliate lost its signal and my Dad and I listened to the last 50 laps on MRN. The affiliate came back on the air and re-played the last 50 laps about 30 minutes after the race ended. Needless to say we were quite ticked that we missed the live version.

James Finch: Finally Getting What He Deserves

With all the Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Talladega hype of the last two weeks still making the rounds, it's hard to believe James Finch hasn't gotten the same exposure or recognition.

However, if you ask James Finch he would tell you that is just fine with him; he isn't used to being in the spotlight anyway.

Looking more like a fan or a member of a race team, James Finch doesn't quite fit the mold of a NASCAR Team Owner.

Instead of dress slacks and sponsor adorned team shirts Finch opts for a more laid back look; cowboy boots, untucked shirts and work jeans. Polished and flashy is not in his make-up. Instead Finch chooses to be a blue collar guy with a blue collar work ethic. It's why his Florida based Phoenix Construction company is so successful and it's why he's been in the sport for nearly 20 years.

The win at Talladega was special to Finch for so many reasons. In his post-race press conference the Panama City, Florida native told the media he considers the Alabama super speedway his home track. "Talladega is like my hometown track," Finch said. "To win here is great, because we’ve been trying to get a win here for a lot of years.”

The look on Dale Earnhardt, Jr's face during his post-race interview with Fox said it all. "James Finch....I mean James Finch!! That's awesome, man!!"

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons the Talladega win is so special is the track's proximity to Hueytown, Alabama the hometown of his long time friend Neil Bonnett. In the media center following the race Finch got emotional when talking about his former driver and long time friend.

Bonnett and Finch paired up in 1994 to run a limited schedule that included the Daytona 500; but all that came to a halt when Bonnett died due to injuries sustained in a crash during one of the practice sessions.

The two weren't just owner and driver they were good friends. The win at Talladega was a fitting tribute to a friendship cut short by tragedy.

Finch has, without a doubt, paid his dues. Since coming into the sport in 1989 he's seen the highs and felt the lows. And even though he's won multiple times in the Nationwide series, and now in the Sprint Cup series, he’s not content to quit now.

“I’ve been through the pains of it", Finch said. "If I never win another, this had been great. But I sure would like to win another. You can guarantee that I’ll be there smiling the next time you open the gates.”

It's that approach to life and to the sport that makes the James Finch story such an inspirational one.

Race Morning at Richmond

Gordon's Back Back In The News-Earlier in the week Jeff Gordon had a detailed MRI done on his back to help diagnose the ongoing and significant back pain he is still experiencing. Gordon met with the Media Friday and stated that a more detailed MRI had been done and the results was able to shed more light on why it's bothering him; but it ended there. Gordon said the MRI gave him and the doctors a better diagnosis but that a treatment had not yet been determined.

Keselowski A Hot Commodity-The win last Sunday at Talladega catapulted Brad Keselowski's status within the ranks of NASCAR. Now, instead of running part-time in 2010, Keselowski wants to land a full-time ride. The only problem is there isn't any room for him at Hendrick Motorsports right now. The original plan had Keselowski splitting time with Mark Martin in the 5 car next year, but Martin's decision to run full-time in '10 has put the clamps on that plan. Rick Hendrick will have a big decision to make. NASCAR only allows an owner to have a maximum of four full-time teams. Either JR Motorsports makes the jump as previously discussed or Keselowski can hop on board with a HMS affiliated team like Stewart-Haas Racing. Either way it's a good chance we will see Keselowski in a full-time ride.

Darlington Goes Retro-Fans visiting Darlington for the Southern 500 will get a blast from the past when they attend the Southern 500 next week. In conjunction with the track's 60th birthday, track officials decided it would be a fitting tribute to paint the walls in the famous red and white block pattern. The paint scheme is a throwback to the days of Petty, Pearson and Allison. But you better get your pictures in early because once the racing gets under way they won't stay clean very long.

Yarborough Set To Bring 'Em To The Green- A familiar face will be behind the wheel of the pace car to start the Southern 500. Track President Chris Browning announced last week that Five Time Southern 500 winner Cale Yarborough will serve as the honorary pace car driver to start next week's Southern 500. Joining Yarborough as honorees will be all-time Darlington victory leader David Pearson, Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker and Sterling Marlin to go along with all active Darlington winners.

One last lap with Pontiac

With a solid history at its back and a cult-like following, Pontiac made its NASCAR debut in 1950 with Will Albright on the beach at Daytona. Pontiac's first win came seven years later on the Daytona road/beach course when Cotton Owens wheeled his Pontiac to victory. The win had played an integral part in the development of the brand's place in the history of NASCAR.

Pontiac bowed out of racing after the 2003 Cup season with 155 wins; but not before giving fans one last memory. During the 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Kurt Busch and Ricky Craven beat and banged on each other for the final ten laps. When it was all said and done Craven had beaten Busch to line by .002 seconds in the closest finish in Cup history.

Although few in numbers, the Pontiac fraternity includes some of the sport's biggest names. Not many people know Dale Earnhardt, Sr raced Pontiacs from 1982-1986 in what was then called the Busch Grand National Series. On the Cup side Richard and Kyle Petty, Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett, Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart were just a few of the drivers to carry the Arrow Head logo and the Pontiac name into victory lane.

With 31 wins and a championship in 1989, Rusty Wallace is Pontiac's winningest driver. Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart hold the distinction of winning Pontiac's last two championships with Stewart winning the last one in 2002.

But perhaps the brand's most famous win came in the 1984 Firecracker 400. With President Reagan on hand, Richard Petty beat Cale Yarborough by inches to win his 200th and final win of his illustrious career.

When the news came down earlier in the week that GM's production of the Pontiac would cease after 2010 it hit home with many in the auto-making industry and those in the world of racing. With all of its history and influence in the automobile industry, Pontiac had managed to make an even bigger stamp on the history of NASCAR.

Richmond: News and Notes

Under The Lights-With all the hype and talk from Talladega winding down, can the Cup guys feed off of the energy and buzz generated from last week's spectacular finish? Even though Talladega's ratings were down from last year's numbers the race did pretty well going head to head with the NBA. The biggest question heading into Richmond is will the race be a dud or will it keep the fans talking and wanting more? Being the first short track race under the lights this season you couldn't ask for a better race to follow what happened at 'Dega.

Next Two Critical for Dale Jr-Saturday night's race at Richmond will be crucial for a lot of guys. None more so than Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Junior and his 88 bunch look to build on his 2nd place finish last week at Talladega. The next two weeks will be critical for these guys. Top 15's won't cut it. This team needs to run up front and get top 5's. Junior has won before at Richmond and he always runs well at Darlington. If this team can't get out of the hole during the next two races then they are done as far as the Chase is concerned.

Bowyer's Streak Continues-Even though Clint Bowyer was caught up in the Lap 7 wreck at Talladega, his team was able to repair the car and finish the race. The hard work by Shane Wilson and his crew allowed Bowyer to continue his impressive streak of running at the finish of 82 consecutive races. The streak rides into Richmond where Bowyer is the defending race winner.

Kyle Busch Hopes To Join An Elite Group-Jayski posted an interesting stat yesterday in regards to drivers winning on their birthday. In the history of the sport only one driver has won on his birthday and that was Cale Yarborough. Amazingly he did it twice; March 27, 1977 at North Wilksboro and March 27, 1983 at Atlanta. If Busch can win Saturday night on his 24th birthday he will join Yarborough as only the 2nd Sprint Cup driver in history to win on his birthday.

Saturday Night's Race Named After A True Hero-A couple of years ago track officials came up with what could be the coolest race contest ever created. They decided to give fans the opportunity to have a Sprint Cup race named after them. This year's winner is not only a true race fan he is a true hero. Earlier this year at Daytona, Russ Friedman found out that the May 2nd race at Richmond would be named after him. Friedman, a two-time Purple Heart recipient, wants to use the race as a platform to honor those who served next to him and those who have given their lives so that we can enjoy the simple pleasures of life. In conjunction with Friedman's honor, Crown Royal and the Jamie McMurray Foundation have stepped in to help make the weekend a running tribute to those who served and are currently serving our nation's military.