RaceWay Tours Blog

NASCAR Drivers Make or Break NASCAR Teams

NASCAR Drivers Make or Break NASCAR Teams
Posted by GEORGE April 30, 2009 3:53:26 PM

A couple of weeks ago, I invited NASCAR fans to give me opinions about what is most important to a successful NASCAR Sprint Cup team. Is it the driver, car, or pit crew? The majority of you think it's the driver, with the car a distant second.

Generally speaking, a NASCAR fan is a fan of a particular driver, rather than a particular car. We would still like to see the number 8 car on the track, and the number 43 car in the winners circle, but most NASCAR fans will follow their driver wherever, and for whomever, he drives. So I have to figure that some of the voting for the driver being most important is related to that fact.

I agree that the driver is most important, but I also tend to look at the hard facts. For instance, consider how successful Clint Bowyer was in the Richard Childress Racing number 07 during the 2008 NASCAR Season. Bowyer raced the Jack Daniels car into The Chase and had a very successful season. Now that Casey Mears is behind the wheel of the number 07, the car has no wins, no top 10 finishes, and an average finish of 20.8. That pretty much mirrors the average performance for Casey's career.

I always figured that you could put Richard Petty or Dale Earnhardt in any car and they would be successful. The success that Tony Stewart has had in other forms of racing also supports the fact that it's the driver that makes a team successful. Whether it's NASCAR, IRL, or Sprint Car racing, Stewart has always been a winner.

Cars are also important to success in NASCAR racing, but the best equipment generally ends up in the hands of the best drivers, and you can usually include the best pit crews in that scenario. Thanks to all of you NASCAR fans for your input!

Our NASCAR tour group is ready for some short, fast track racing at Richmond International Raceway starting tomorrow night. RIR combines bump and run racing with high speeds to provide some of the best races of the season. I've never seen a bad race at Richmond, but then I’ve never seen a bad NASCAR race, period!

See you at the track!

Keselowski Wins the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway

Keselowski Wins the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway
Posted by GEORGE April 28, 2009 4:16:46 PM

Talladega Superspeedway provided the type of action that the track is famous for: A slam-bang finish to a spectacular race gave Brad Keselowski his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win, while putting Carl Edwards into the fence only a few yards from the finish line. First place is not where you want to be on the last lap at Talladega, and Edwards can testify to that fact.

Racing wtih a partner was the way to go in the Aaron's 499. When two cars linked up, it gave them a 10 MPH advantage over the field. Keselowski was racing snugly behind Edwards when a blocking attempt sent Carl upside down and into the fence after contact. Unfortunately seven fans were injured by flying debris as Cousin Carl's car literally flew apart. We hope none of the injuries were serious.

The first BIG ONE of the day took out Jeff Gordon early in the race, and took him from first to second in NASCAR Sprint Cup points. Bad luck also hit Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin, giving Hendrick Motorsports one of its worst days in NASCAR racing. Only Dale Earnhardt Jr finished in the top five for Hendrick.

A win would have given Earnhardt Jr redemption for past performances, but at this stage, a second-place finish looks mighty good for Junior. It was great to see Dale Jr carry the Hendrick Motorsports flag all by himself.

Now we have Kurt Busch in first place in the points race. This is a comeback year for Kurt, to put it mildly. Although it's too early to tell if Busch's early success will hold true throughout the season, no one can count him out.

If you haven't been to a NASCAR Sprint Cup race yet this year, you should make plans to get to a race! This season is going to go down in NASCAR history as the most hotly-contested championship in recent years. The 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season is already one-fourth over, believe it or not, and everything is yet to be decided!

See you at the track!

Dale Earnhardt Jr and Casey Mears on Probation

Dale Earnhardt Jr and Casey Mears on Probation
Posted by GEORGE April 23, 2009 12:19:50 PM

A little extra slam-bang action after the Phoenix race last weekend has gained Dale Earnhardt Jr and Casey Mears six weeks of probation.

Earnhardt lost his cool on the cool-down lap, and he spun Casey Mears in retaliation for an accident that happened earlier in the race. Mears, not to be outdone by Earnhardt, bumped him in the pits. Now, both NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers must stay out of trouble for six weeks to remain in the good graces of NASCAR.

I understand that NASCAR has to make an effort to keep things under control and make certain no one gets hurt, and these guys could have sought their revenge in the next race or two. But to Dale Jr and Casey Mears: Way to go guys! If there is a shortfall in NASCAR racing right now, it's that there aren't enough "lessons" taught and drivers stay too "under control."

Drivers always hated to see Dale Earnhardt Sr in their rear view mirror, and they almost always feared his tactics. That's the kind of NASCAR driving I'm talking about. The average NASCAR fan goes to the races to see good competition, but we also like a little "down and dirty" racing along the way.

Talladega Superspeedway is not for the faint of heart as the Sprint Cup drivers run three and four wide with speeds topping 200 MPH on the 2.66-mile tri-oval. Talladega Superspeedway has it all, and we'll be there for all of the action this weekend when the green flag drops for the Aarons 499.

See you at the track!

Mark Martin Wins the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at PIR

Mark Martin Wins the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at PIR
Posted by GEORGE April 21, 2009 12:25:02 PM

I was beginning to think I might be a jinx to any driver I picked to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup race, but I nailed one on Saturday night, and it was a gutsy pick. I'm guessing very few NASCAR fans picked Mark Martin to win the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, but the old pro raced like a champion, and pulled off the win with a car which could not be beat.

I was asked yesterday why I picked Martin instead of one of the leading contenders. There were a couple reasons. First, Hendrick Motorsports has been gunning for a win for Martin, and has been throwing resources at his team in an attempt to make it happen. Rick Hendrick lured Mark Martin to his business by telling him he would have a solid chance to win his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Rick would dearly love to make this happen. The other reason I picked Martin is because he is one of the best drivers on a flat track, and he has had a car which has shown great promise.

As you might imagine, I know a lot of NASCAR fans, and I would guess this was a popular win for all of them. No matter who their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup driver is, everyone enjoys seeing Mark Martin win. He represents NASCAR racing as it should be, and no one does it better. Most of us NASCAR fans would give up a championship for our favorite driver if Mark Martin could win it all. And this is the year he could do that very thing!

Congratulations to Mark Martin, his crew, and Hendrick Motorsports for a great win!

See you at the track!

Phoenix International Raceway is a Hendrick Track

Phoenix International Raceway is a Hendrick Track
Posted by GEORGE April 16, 2009 11:44:33 AM

In the last eight races at PIR, Hendrick divers have claimed five poles and five wins. It seems that certain drivers on certain tracks are close to being unbeatable. It could be that the track fits a particular driver's style, or possibly, a driver just believes he can drive better than others on a given track.

For the last four races at Phoenix International Raceway, Hendrick Motorsports has owned the track. Jeff Gordon started the string of wins back in 2007. After that, Jimmie Johnson took the baton, putting together three straight wins. Last year, Jimmie Johnson set a track record by winning his third race in a row at Phoenix, and he will look to break that record this weekend.

Hendrick's performance at PIR makes my prediction for the Phoenix race fairly simple, but hang on NASCAR fans, because there's a surprise. I'm picking Hendrick Motorsports to continue their string of wins at PIR, but I'm not picking Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson to do the job. My pick to win the Subway Fresh Fit 500 this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway is Mark Martin!

Starting in 2010, NASCAR will allow each Sprint Cup owner to have no more than four teams. Jack Roush has made various attempts to have this decision overturned, but to no avail. So with five teams, Jack has a dilemma on his hands. It appears the decision has been made by Roush, and the number 26 car with driver Jamie McMurray will bite the dust to get Roush Fenway Racing down to the allowed number of teams.

Although McMurray has had less than a stellar career, I believe he is a driver who will be picked up by another team. The NASCAR year is young, and there is still plenty of room for more movement in the NASCAR team ranks.

NASCAR Sprint Cup rookies are leaving a lot to be desired this year, much like last year. Joey Logano appears to be the only rookie in contention for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year award. As a matter of fact, they can go ahead and etch Logano's name on the trophy as he has claimed the Raybestos Rookie of the Race award in five of the first seven races. Maybe Logano hasn't done as well this year as his fans expected, but he is still the best rookie in the field.

It's going to be nice and warm in Phoenix this weekend, and I hope other NASCAR fans will be enjoying the race as much as I will!

See you at the track!

Logano Wins a Nationwide Series Race at Nashville

Logano Wins a Nationwide Series Race at Nashville
Posted by GEORGE April 14, 2009 3:48:46 PM

Joey Logano may have pulled off the most important win of his short career. Logano held off his teammate, Kyle Busch, to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Nashville last Saturday. So far, Logano's best NASCAR Sprint Cup Series finish has been 13th-place in Las Vegas, and he has pretty much been out of the running in other races.

Logano is one of the drivers of the future, and that Nationwide win is a confidence builder for the him. He has always known that he could compete with the superstars of NASCAR racing and now he has proven it. Can a NASCAR Sprint Cup win be far behind?

"The King" will be the Grand Marshall for the NASCAR Camping World Series East/West race at the Iowa Speedway on May 17th for what should be a great event. Richard Petty loves this track, and has said that if he weren't going to be the Grand Marshall, he would probably buy a ticket and go to the race anyway. Kyle Busch is scheduled to compete in the race.

What's the most important factor when it comes to putting together a winning NASCAR Sprint Cup team? Is it the crew chief, driver, pit crew, or something else? Send an email to me at george@TrackChatter.com with your opinion. After you let me know what you think, keep checking in at TrackChatter.com, as I post your opinions along with what I think.

Another great weekend of NASCAR racing is in store for our NASCAR tour group this weekend in Phoenix. Forty-eight drivers will compete for 43 starting positions in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, and Jeff Gordon will try to extend his points lead over the rest of the field. This has always been one of my favorite tracks to watch a race, and PIR never lets us down when it comes to exciting NASCR racing!

See you at the track!

No More Number 8

No More Number 8
Posted by GEORGE April 9, 2009 12:04:25 PM

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has pulled the number 8 car from NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. It was bad enough when the deal didn't come together to allow Dale Earnhardt Jr to take the number 8 with him to Hendrick Motorsports, but to no longer see the number 8 on the track is a real downer.

We were warned at the start of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season that there was only enough money to carry the car through the race at Texas Motor Speedway, but we thought a sponsor would come forward to save the day. No such luck, and the number 8, made famous by Dale Earnhardt Jr, has met its demise.

It remains a matter of money, and the hope is that someone will put up the money later in the season to allow the number 8 to return to the track.

In my opinion, this is another result of the demise of Dale Earnhardt Inc brought on by the departure of Dale Earnhardt Jr. I also think that no merger would have been necessary, and DEI would be running strong had Dale Earnhardt Jr been allowed part ownership in his dad's company. I know; It's water under the bridge, but NASCAR racing will be better off with DEI than without it.

Drivers not only become associated with a number, but they actually become that number to NASCAR fans. The number 43 will always be Richard Petty's number no matter who is behind the wheel. To NASCAR junkies like me, it would be great to see the number 43 in the winner's circle, no matter who the driver is. It would be like a tribute to "The King." The next time you see a NASCAR fan with the number 8 tattooed on his arm, ask him whose number it is, and he'll say "Dale Earnhardt Jr!"

See you at the track!

2009 Texas Motor Speedway Samsung 500 Recap

2009 Texas Motor Speedway Samsung 500 Recap
Posted by GEORGE April 7, 2009 10:26:17 AM

Jeff Gordon was back in the saddle again at Texas Motor Speedway, and he looked like a driver on a mission as he ended the longest drought of his career by winning the Samsung 500. Gordon gave most of the credit to his crew chief and pit crew, but "Mr NASCAR" was the real reason the trophy went to the Hendrick Motorsports team.

Jimmie Johnson needed about three more laps, and he may have been firing the six guns in the winners circle. After the last caution, Jeff ran away to a lead that Johnson couldn't overcome in the remaining laps.

The stars for Hendrick Motorsports were shining bright in the heart of Texas as the three most successful drivers in the Hendrick stable finished 1st, 2nd, and 6th, dominating the field.

Dale Earnhardt Jr had a strong finish lined up, leading the race for a few laps, but Earnhardt's bubble burst and Junior finished a disappointing 20th. If Rick Hendrick truly knows what is wrong with the Dale Earnhardt Jr team, now would be a fine time to fix it.

My pick for the winner of the Samsung 500 had it in the bag until late in the race. A dismal pit stop during the final caution dropped Carl Edwards from 1st-place to 11th. Edwards did manage to improve his position one spot, and he finished the race in 10th-place. After the race, Edwards said the pit crew doesn't get on him when he hits the wall, so he won't jump on them for the bad pit stop. That's a classy statement from a true gentleman of the sport.

Kevin Harvick took a four-spot nosedive and dropped out of the top 12 in points. Juan Pablo Montoya is now sitting just 16 points out of The Chase. Mark Martin and Greg Biffle are hot, and if they keep up their current pace, both will be in the top 12 in a couple of weeks. This season has all of the earmarks to be the best we've seen in many years.

Now we have a weekend off, and then we're off to Phoenix International Raceway for some slam-bang NASCAR racing. It's the Subway Fresh Fit 500 on a track made for exciting NASCAR Racing.

See you at the track!

NASCAR Restart Rule Change is Good

NASCAR Restart Rule Change is Good
Posted by GEORGE April 2, 2009 12:41:21 PM

NASCAR made a change this season which made late-race restarts more interesting. The field will use a single file restart when the race is within 20 laps of the finish. In previous years, the race had to be within 10 laps of the finish before NASCAR used a single file restart.

This allows the lead drivers in the race to compete for the win without having to deal with lapped cars directly to their left. Many times, lapped traffic has affected the outcome of race as the first place car jumped to the front of lapped cars at the restart, while cars from second place back had to fight to get around the lapped cars before they could challenge for the lead.

This was a good decision by NASCAR, but is not enough of a change. There is a reason a car becomes a lap or more down, and that car doesn't deserve to start at the front of the pack just because they can't keep up or have had some bad luck. Let the lead cars race for the win without being impaired by lapped cars. That's the way it should be for the entire race, not just the last 20 laps.

Forty-eight cars are competing for the 43 spots in this Sunday's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. It appears now that our concerns about running a race with less than 43 cars this year are unfounded. At least for now, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams are coming up with the money to enter the races. Most of the races are selling out, as they did in previous years. Empty seats do not mean the seats are not sold, and the business of NASCAR racing is not only alive, but doing quite well.

See you at the track!