RaceAway Hospitality Blog

Track Trash – Twin 150's in 2010

Track Trash – Twin 150's in 2010
Posted by Racing Maniac February 12, 2010 3:32:00 PM

Alliances: With all the crackdowns doled out by NA$CAR in years gone by, followed by their new found leniency; Big Brother seems to have a deaf ear when it comes to the maximum number of cars a team can have. We all remember the quandary that Roush was in with his 5 teams and having to drop down to 4 this year. However, the almost sudden spurt of 'alliances' has allowed the big teams to greatly extend their presence on the track. Alliances can offer stuff like chassis, setups, engines, marketing, etc, etc, so the little teams all of a sudden have a huge influx of technology at their disposal. And those 'alliance' teams are also buying their way into the top 35 and guaranteeing themselves a spot in the first few races. A couple of these 'alliances' are boosting the total number of cars associated with a big team to as many as 10 and 12 cars. Is this fair? Heck NO. What can we do about it? Not a ding dang thing. Sort of makes you wanna barf, doesn't it?

Green-White-Checkered Flags: OK, due to the recent Bud Shootout, NA$CAR changed the rules governing the end of the race so we can have a green flag finish. Some of the drivers have weighed in on the subject, and SirMark thought it might lead to an endless amount of restarts in order to accomplish the new ruling. But it looks like NASCAR gave this some more thought, and limited it to 3 green-white-checkered restarts. Let's hope that most of the field doesn't run out of gas because the race is that much longer. Stay tuned...

Four Eyes: Jeff Hammond finally had to bite the bullet and start wearing glasses. He's not quite the dapper fellow he once was, cuz Father Time has a way of kicking you in the ribs. It's tough getting' old, ain't it, Jeff?

Roushketeers: Although having a flash of brilliance every now and then, it's pretty clear that the Cat in the Hat hasn't caught up with the field when it comes to technology. They thought they were coming in here with a package that would make them very competitive, but they're still lacking that mysterious 'something' that would get them back to the front of the line. But then, maybe their cookie cutter cars will have that edge... maybe.

RCR: This outfit seems to have gotten their act together. That is, except for Jburton, who just doesn't seem to have the same inherent drive as he used to, or as much as Happy and Bowowyer do now. Jburton is one of the most respected drivers on the circuit, yet he is utterly miserable at qualifying, and for one reason or another can't seem to get the job done on the track. One more bad year and he just might be 'promoted' up to a management position... or headed back to South Boston, VA.

Hendrick: OK, lemme go out on a limb and suggest that Gordo and Jr. swap crew chiefs. It appears that the Rickster is gonna hang on to all of 'em for a while, so the best solution to this quagmire might be to play musical chairs. Ten to one that Gordo would run better. I can't quite force myself to say the same thing for Jr., although I still believe he can wheel a race car every now and then. If Jr. doesn't watch out, Junior Nation could become Rowdy, Inc. But nooo, the Rickster wouldn't do anything quite so harsh, so I must be dreaming again. ZZZZZZZZZ

Gibbs: No comments here, cuz they seem to again be on the road to success. The Coach doesn't seem to have done anything wrong since he started that team. Ooops. I almost forgot his failed return to the Redskins...

Overview: One might think that the guys in the top 35 could just tool around and not use up their 500 car. The same might be said about a couple guys who raced into it via their qualifying run. However, this turned out to be a couple of races that lived up to the hype. How could anyone say they were boring, considering that both races ended in almost dead heats? Close yer eyes and think of what's gonna happen in the last 10 laps of the 500...

Kudos: Who woulda thunk that das Knaus would keep JJ on the track instead of puttin' some rubber on the wheels? And who woulda thunk that the second race would have only one Yellow, making the last 30 laps a run for the roses?

Heaps of 3’s all over yer local Lowes store, and the foam spewing outta yer can of Bud,

Racing Maniac

Track Trash – Bud Shootout 2010

Track Trash – Bud Shootout 2010
Posted by Racing Maniac February 8, 2010 9:28:40 AM

Backups: I saw The Big One a few days ago in the practice session, and this may be the norm until the following race in Fontana. Most of the drivers just don't have the hang of riding in the draft with the slightly new setups, and a few more practice laps might not make it much better. The Shootout drivers will have a distinct advantage during the Twin 150's and the 500, but they're gonna be surrounded by those dudes who don't know how to spread peanut butter on bread. So look for some wild and wooly racing.

Copesetic: (Or it could be Cope-apathetic). When you look at the list of drivers in the Shootout, his name stands out like a sore thumb. Yep, Mr. DC is in a league all by himself. Why on earth would a sane person invest all that time and money just to drop out of a race? I know the economics of 'start and park' teams, and I don't particularly like to see them anywhere near a track, but the Copester can't possibly think that (a) he could actually get into the 500, and (b) that he might be competitive. Of course, he may have been in exactly the same situation when he won the 500 some umpteen years ago...

Long and short of it: OK, it's time for Obama to do something really important. If he ever shows up at a NA$CAR track, the first thing he needs to do is offer a Presidential pardon and allow Carl Long to get his life back together. One small act like that (aside from it slapping Brian the Brain in the kisser), just might redeem him in the eyes of many race fans.

Ooops: Just watched 500 qualifying and one thing certainly caught my eye. The Roushketeers may be in for another rough year. Unless they can quickly re-tune their cars, or catch a lot of breaks, they may be in dire straits for a while. However, the big test will come on the cookie cutters, cuz there's a whole bunch of 'em on the schedule. They may recover, but from what I just saw, they may be behind the 8 ball again.

Da Race: A 25 lap segment, then a 10 minute pit stop, then the final 50 laps. Hey, if you fell asleep during the first 25 laps, you didn't miss much cuz there were only two significant happnens. The first was on lap 15 when (duhhh) Cope-apathetic dropped out of the race. Gee, I must be a savant. The second was on lap 24 when Mikey got nudged, spun out into the infield, and all of his tear-off windows... tore off. This was indeed something we've never witnessed before, so it was almost worth the price of the first 25 laps (all of which were led by Flip Edwards).

Da Real Race: OK, everyone was waiting for the last dash to the flag. Junior was waiting all night (and we're still waiting for him to emerge from his cocoon). After the restart of the last segment, it wasn't too long before das Kurt got nudged by SirMark. Kurt was on the outside, somehow missed the inside line of cars, and shot right into the wet infield. His lower lip plowed into the soft ground, mud shot up and nearly blew his hood off, then he proceeded to go up the track and do a nosedive into the SAFER barrier. Although neither was his fault, this was the second car he totaled in less than a week, so his odds of finishing the Twin 150's (let alone the 500) isn’t that good.

Yep, the last 50 laps lived up to all the hype and interest we've had with the Bud Shootout, and it was one of the more memorable ones in recent years. A lot of passing for the lead, a lot of close encounters of the third kind, and then with only a couple of laps to go, The Big One. It could've been caused by da Biff's RR tire going flat, or because he was at that exact time being bump-drafted... or both. The Big One froze the field, and allowed Happy to tool across the line running at half speed.

Kudos: To Happy for recovering just in time to jump in the seat and get a W. To Kasey for a good solid run in his new Ford. To JamieMac for a surprising first outing for his new Bow Tie team. OK, enough kudos for one night... the rest of the guys were supposed to run that good.

Oh, I forgot. Super Kudos to Fox, who thankfully did not inundate us with dim witted Digger cartoons. What a super start of the new Cup year, and I hope they continue along this course for the rest of their races.

Heaps of 3's all over yer local Shell station,
Racing Maniac

PS: A hearty "Welcome" to RaceAway Hospitality for joining our group. They offer some very tempting race packages. Going to the races just got easier.

Track Trash – In the Beginning...

Track Trash – In the Beginning
Posted by Racing Maniac February 4, 2010  10:38:26 AM

 

Zzzzzzz. Don't talk too loud, cuz I'm just wakin' up from my hibernation.

Someone strapped some wires to my head while I was snorin’, and I've been monitoring some of the NA$CAR jabber. Most of it was mindless fodder like  "So and So is determined for a fresh start in 2010," or "So and So has high expectations following his run in 2009." Unfortunately, most of the stories have been pretty much pure dribble (to keep the reporters fingers nimble). One exception (if you do the Scene Daily thing) is Carolyn Brewster. It still amazes me how she can pull a story out of thin air and make it work each week. Week after week after week.

 

The new carb plate will give the cars a little more HP for Speed Week, but when they introduce the new spoiler it’ll mean the crew chiefs will have to throw their play books out the door cuz past set-ups will be pretty much worthless. But that’s why they’re paid the big bucks. Crew chiefs are the heart and soul of racing. They spend far too much time away from their families, and often aren’t rewarded with a good finish.   Breaking parts, wrecks not their fault, and driver misjudgments are just some of the things that give them Excedrin headaches. We adulate the drivers, but without a good crew chief, a bunch of ‘em would be doing their thang in the ARCA races.

 

NA$CAR rules changes now leaves bump drafting up to the drivers. I don’t know about you, but I’m a tad uneasy about this. I know there’s a bunch of really smart drivers out there, but there’s also a few of ‘em that don’t know how to spread peanut butter on bread. And these are the guys that may cause The Big One.   Break out the Goody’s, boys and girls.

 

Weather permitting, we can see the Cup guys put on their new ice skates in a few days.  

The schedules are (all times EST):

Shootout Practice Thur 2/4   5:30 PM Speed

Shootout Practice Thur 2/4   6:30 PM Speed

Daytona 500 Practice   Fri 2/5 12:00 PM Speed

Daytona 500 Practice   Fri 2/5 4:00 PM Speed

Shootout Qual  Sat 2/6    1:00 pm Fox

Shootout  Sat 2/6 8:00 PM Fox

Gatorade Duel 150's  Thur 2/11 1:00 PM Fox

 

(You working stiffs should set up your DVR so you don't miss the action.)

 

The above three races used to be perhaps the best racing of the year ... until they invented the COT. 

The All Star race in Charlotte could be added to this list, but it depends on how the annual rule changes shake out. Nonetheless, it’s another year of action, and NA$CAR has promised they will be more lenient at enforcing the rules. More beatin’ and bangin’. More fumes (coming from the drivers). More tingling sensations running up and down yer spine (my…..you are a little weird, aren’t you?).

 

Heaps of 3’s,

Racing Maniac

Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson Big Winners

Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson Big Winners
Posted by GEORGE November 24, 2009 10:32:19 AM

Denny Hamlin's car gave him all he needed, and Hamlin took home the winner's share of the purse for the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday evening. Hamlin drove like was trying to make the statement that he will be a force to contend with in the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season. Had it not been for his three DNFs during the 2009 Chase, he would have been contending for the trophy this year.

I hope you were at the track, or at least watching Sunday's race, because it was history in the making. No one, not even Petty, Earnhardt, or Gordon, has ever won four championships in a row. This feat ranks right up there with the best of the best in any other sport, and fans at the track fully recognized Jimmie Johnson's accomplishment. Most all of the spectators in attendance stayed for the celebration, rose to their feet for The Champ, and gave him a magnificent round of applause. Even NASCAR fans who were not fans of Jimmie Johnson appreciated the season he had and paid him the respect he deserves.

Is Jimmie Johnson the best NASCAR driver of all time? That question will never be answered and can only be speculated about. Times have changed, and it can be argued that the toughest time to win championships is now or has passed. But here's what we do know: Jimmie is the best there is at this time! No one can touch him and his crew, as far as being the best team in NASCAR. This statement is from Johnson's peers and who would know better?

Joey Logano was a lock on the 2009 NASCAR Rookie of the Year award from the start of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, and he did not disappoint. It wasn't a great year for Logano, but it was a good first year.

Kyle Busch drove his heart out this year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and won the championship in that series. As Busch's success rate declined in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, he took it out on the Nationwide Series competition.

Chad Knaus has won the 2009 NASCAR Crew Chief of the Year award, and how could they have given it to anyone else? Looking back at Jimmie Johnson's success this year, it's apparent that Knaus won races for Jimmie, and that's the way it's supposed to work.

Mark Martin gave us some of the biggest NASCAR thrills this season, and going into the last race, was the only driver who had any shot to take the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship away from Jimmie Johnson. I expect to see Mark Martin contending for the title again next year.

Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Chad Knaus, and Mark Martin, and thanks to all the NASCAR drivers and teams for a great season.

See you at the track!

Can Mark Martin Catch Jimmie Johnson in Homestead?

Can Mark Martin Catch Jimmie Johnson in Homestead?
Posted by GEORGE November 17, 2009 3:19:57 PM

All the talk last week was about Jimmie Johnson's title hunt for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup. The main concern among Johnson fans was whether he could bounce back after his bad finish the weekend before. It didn't take long to remove all concern from his fans' minds, as Johnson bounced back and right into the winner's circle, taking home the top prize in the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at PIR. Domination was the order of the day, and Jimmie was the class of the field.

All Jimmie Johnson needs to do is finish 25th or better in the last race of the season at Homestead-Miami this weekend, and the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup belongs to him, no matter what Mark Martin does. But, if Mark Martin wins the race and leads the most laps, and Jimmie Johnson finishes 26th or worse, Martin is the champion. So all of the Jimmie Johnson fans are feeling pretty good and figuring that it's a lock. Right? It's the same feeling we had just prior to the race at Texas Motor Speedway the previous weekend when Johnson finished 38th! The championship isn't in the bag for Jimmie yet.

Johnson says that his plan for this weekend's race is to qualify toward the top, and then just stay up there the whole race. He contends that he is less likely to get involved in a championship-ending accident if he stays in front, or at least close to the front. Sounds logical to me, but how easy is that? Not too easy for Jimmie, based on his previous finishes at this Florida track. I'm happy to hear that he has a winning plan, but I still don't feel any better.

As I see it, there is only one sure winner going into this weekend's race at Homestead-Miami, and that winner is Rick Hendrick. No matter what happens to Jimmie Johnson or Mark Martin, Hendrick Motorsports has the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in the bag. One of those two guys is definitely going to be the champion. Jeff Gordon drops out of the running as soon as Jimmie Johnson starts the race this weekend. Congratulations, once again, to Hendrick Motorsports.

It's the last race of what has been an outstanding season of NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing. Our NASCAR tour group will be in Homestead-Miami this weekend to watch the crowning of this year's champion. But I'm also hungry for more, and in a few short months we'll be right back at the track for another super season.

See you at the track!