Talladega Texts: Emails

Originally Posted on Foxsports on October 7, 2007.


Monday, October 1, 2007 7:32:34 p.m.
Happy,
I'd like to make a $10,000 donation to the "Wax Smoke Fund."  I figure it's the least I can do for the guy who knocked me out of the race yesterday. 
Carl


Monday, October 1, 2007 4:22:57 p.m.
Junior,
Hi!  Do you remember meeting me at Daytona a couple years ago?  Just wonderin' if we could get together sometime soon.
Text me!
Britney Spears
PS.  Do you still get free Bud?
PPS - Was 60 minutes really right about how much you make per year?


Monday, October 1, 2007 7:37:00 p.m.
Jacques,
Please don't take my comments personally.  I think you'll do fine in Nascar.  The issue is that your first race is at Talladega.  Talladega is not a kind track - have you watched the footage from Bobby Allison's crash?  Did you know that several drivers have died there testing? 
I know you need restrictor plate track experience before Daytona, but maybe you should start with Scott and Dario in the ARCA series.
Unless you're planning to help with Montoya, you'd be better off watching the race Sunday.  Montoya is a big moving chicane.  We don't need another one to worry about. 
Jeff


Monday, October 1, 2007 10:34:21 p.m.
JJ -
Thanks for saying I should have won yesterday.  What I don't get is why none of us was penalized if Biff was keeping a reasonable speed.  In fact, didn't you pass me at the end under the caution?
Clint


Tuesday, October 2, 2007 9:10:08 a.m.
Bumgarner,
I don't understand how we passed the pre-race inspection and then failed the post-race inspection with the manifold. 
At least we found out before Sunday.  That would have been a disaster.
So Knaus was in the garage when you left Friday night?
Kyle


Tuesday, October 2, 2007 2:04:22 p.m.
Bill -
I don't understand why Montoya was welcomed with opened arms and I'm not.  I mean, my credentials are even better - I'm an F1 Champ! 
What do I need to do?  Gordon is clearly upset, and he's the calm one of the bunch!  I don't even want to know what that hot-head Stewart thinks.
JV


Tuesday, October 2, 2007 11:34:50 p.m.
Kurt,
Thank you for your kind words.  I'm holding up pretty good, even though the rehearsal schedule is horrible!  It's worse than the Indy 500 for endurance!
I sure will put in a good word for you with the producers.  Why wouldn't they want a former Nascar Champ as a contestant?   I'd hate for those dance lessons for your wedding last year to go to waste!
Helio


Tuesday, October 2, 2007 6:43:24 p.m.
Humpy
Of course I'm serious about moving the track if the City won't let me build the drag strip!
Curtis & I built this.  And I can tear it down.
I plan to tell them that at the meeting.
Bruton


Wednesday, October 3, 2007 2:34:12 p.m.
Denny,
I don't think we've met, but I heard about you from Paris.
Let me put it this way:  Anything she can do, I can do better.
Text Me!
Britney Spears


Wednesday, October 3, 2007 4:32: 08 p.m.
Kyle -
Big congrats on the M&M deal!  I loved that sponsorship. 
Enjoy!
Elliott


Wednesday, October 3, 2007 7:23:34 p.m.
Shrub,
I expect chocolate stocked everywhere next year.
Don't forget my motorhome.
Congrats on the new sponsor.
Smoke


Thursday, October 4, 2007 7:23:34 a.m.
Bushy -
What's up with the Cubs?  When you get up (don't even pretend you didn't stay up all night watching the game), call me.
Newman


Thursday, October 4, 2007 4:52:29 p.m.
Dario,
I'm sure if you want to meet the team you should be able to do that tomorrow.  We'll all be there for practice.  And if there's anything you need, let me know.
David Stremme
PS:  Will your wife be coming to the track with you?


Friday, October 5, 2007 10:34:33 a.m.
Pam,
I'd love to be able to come to your wedding in Vegas tomorrow night, but my schedule makes that impossible.  But, I should be able to host you and your new husband at the track anytime. 
And no, I haven't had any more problems with videotapes.
Smoke


Friday, October 5, 2007 6:43:22 p.m.
Kasey,
Hi!  Remember me?  I think we met a few years ago.  Paris was talking about you.
We agree that you are SO cute.
Text me!
Britney Spears
PS - Have you already started to get free Bud?


Saturday, October 6, 2007 10:23:53 a.m.
Richie  -
Man, you gave us a scare!  I hope you are home resting and getting better.  Sorry you won't be able to see Tony Jr and I win tomorrow.  We'll bring you the trophy!
Junior


Saturday, October 6, 2007 8:42:44 p.m.
Mikey -
You should have the selected dates from UPS.  We think a modified schedule will let me ease into the booth and not have to worry about qualifying every week.
Congrats on the pole.  You look good up there.
Dale


Saturday, October 6, 2007 9:00:03 p.m.
Denny,
JD updated me about the parking.  Tony last week and now you. 
I trust that you will make up for it tomorrow.
Let's talk Monday morning at 8:30 a.m.
Joe


Sunday, October 7, 2007 6:11:47 p.m.
Sorry for the global e-mail - my tire went flat. 
Wish I hadn't collected so many Chasers, but I'm glad everyone was OK.
What was the deal with the hyper security before the race?
Bobby


Sunday, October 7, 2007 7:20:00 p.m.
Richard & Teresa -
We don't have any idea why there were so many engine failures.  It will take some time in the shop to figure out.  It is likely a component that wasn't machined properly.
There is no truth to the rumor that we had a break-in in the garage last night.
I'll keep you updated.
Bill


Sunday, October 7, 2007 8:04:01 p.m.
Mom,
I tried to make tea, and we are completely out of sugar.  Even the extra bag from the pantry is gone.  Could you stop and get some?
Love, Taylor Nicole

Gordon vs. Stewart: Is Stewart Thwarting Gordon's Drive for Five?

Originally Posted on Foxsports on September 19, 2007.


Jeff Gordon is a four time Cup Champion, currently comfortably perched in second place in the all time wins column.  Tony Stewart is a two time Cup Champion, currently the only driver to win under both the "old" format and the "new" Chase format.


Arguably, they are the two best drivers in the Cup series today.  In any event, the pair are the only active drivers with more than one Championship.
This year, they are both finally back in the Championship Title hunt at the same time.  In 2005, Gordon missed the Chase, while last year, Stewart missed out. 


In February, 2006, I wrote a blog about how Stewart's success possibly was hindering Gordon's winning a fifth Championship. 


In short, these are the facts:  Gordon's last Championship came in 2001.  Since then, he has not finished higher in the Championship points than 3rd.   Stewart, during that same time period, has won it all twice, and finished second to Gordon in 2001.   Both spent one season outside the top 10 due to their failure to make the Chase.  Both regularly win more than one race each season.   
Prior to Stewart's Cup debut in 1999, Gordon had a hot streak going:  from 1996 to 1998,  he won at least 10 races each year (with a 13 win season in 1998) and he had over 21 top five finishes in each of those years.  Since 1999, the most wins Gordon could put together in a season was 7 and the most top 5 finishes is 18.  In the 1992-1998 seasons, Gordon amassed 3 Cup trophies, 42 wins, 100 top 5 finishes, and 123 top ten finishes.


However, this is how their careers compare since 1999. 
                  Gordon                        Stewart
Wins                37                              32 
Top 5's           128                              116
Top 10's         185                              185
Chmps          2001                            2002, 2005
Top 5 pt fin.     4                                   4
(Stats in above chart from Nascar Scene, Mike Hembree, and through first 26 races of this year)




Granted, several other talented drivers have regularly won during this timeframe (Think:  Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Kurt and Kyle Busch, and Ryan Newman). 


But Gordon's momentum cooled at the time Stewart arrived on the scene, in 1999.  Did the wheels fall off Gordon's car then as the result of losing chief wizard, er, crew chief Ray Evernham?  Or was it Stewart's aggressive style that hindered Gordon's Drive for Five?


Regardless if you love or hate Gordon, or love or hate Stewart, these two giants have the potential to gin up viewership and amp up the rivalry.    The race at Louden gave a taste of what could be coming as these two tussle over every position.


So, is this the year that the two actually go head to head again for the Championship?


I, for one, would love to see it happen. 


After all, who can forget the 2005 love tap at Dover or the 2001 pit road spin at Bristol?  Or the Watkins Glen crash and conference in the garage in 2000?  Or even the twin spins at Watkins Glen this year? 


And this time, I think Stewart better look out on the confrontations in the garage - remember the Matt Kenseth shove at Bristol last year?  Gordon means business.  But then, so does Stewart.

Danica Attempts a Jeff Gordon and Fails Miserably; Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

Originally Posted on foxsports.com on June 5, 2007.

Danica Patrick was Miffed.  She fumed.  She stomped up to give Dan Wheldon a piece of her mind.  She raised her voice and her eyebrows, dramatically making her point.  Danica went so far as to push Wheldon to make sure he got it.  Wheldon's reaction?

He ignored her.  Like the leftovers you don't want to eat after you get home, and then fester in your refridgerator.

Danica was upset that Dan and Dario Franchitti hadn't let her pass them on the track.  Wheldon went so far as to bump her car.  She managed to keep it off the wall, and finished the race.  But she was upset.

Unfortunately, she hadn't mastered the Jeff Gordon Bristol shove.  Back to the drawing board, Danica!   You did much better slapping Jacque Lazier.

Meanwhile, at the rain delayed Nascar race, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch had another round of "Oh, yeah, well, take that!" which usually ends with both cars wrecked and ruining a good finish.

However, this version amped up the typical slugfest when Busch bumped into Stewart.  On pit road.  While Jason Lee, a crewmember, was on the right fender. 

Lee had to jump onto the hood to avoid being crushed by Busch's car.   Never fear, it appears Lee gave Busch an earful after it happened, and he wasn't hurt.  

Both sides are claiming the other is at fault. 

The IRL announced neither Danica or Dan would be penalized. 

Nascar parked Busch at the time of the offense, but penalties could be handed down tomorrow.   Busch's problem is that a crew member on pit road nearly got hurt and it was clearly intentional behavior. 

The on-track incident is likely to be considered "just racing" even if you could see the outcome watching the two race without giving.

I think Busch could be up for a signficant penalty.  Maybe even a suspension.

After all, if Junior loses 100 points and his crew chief for 6 races for tinkering with the COT, which didn't almost injure someone, shouldn't intentional behavior which comes within inches of harming a teammember be worth more?

 

Is the Number Up?

Originally Posted on foxsports.com on April 22, 2007.

Incredible as it seems, last night, Jeff Gordon celebrated his first-ever win at Phoenix International Raceway.  The win was sweet in part, because it leaves only two tracks that Gordon has never won at in his Cup career:  Texas and Homestead.  The win, highlighted by a late duel with Tony Stewart,  topped off a memorable weekend for Gordon.

First, he won the pole for the race.  That pole earned him  fourth place on the Most Poles list, tied with Darrell Waltrip.  His win was the first for someone who also sat on the Pole at PIR.

The win tied Gordon for sixth place on the Nascar All-Time Win list with Dale Earnhardt.   Which, in turn, means that next weekend, Gordon could surpass Earnhardt for sole ownership of sixth place on the All-Time Win list. 

Gordon has never been popular with the majority of Earnhardt fans, but if he wins next week, it will be doubly insulting to diehard #3 fans. 

It could happen on Earnhardt's birthday, April 29th.  And at the site of his last win - Talladega.

I've never been a big fan of Gordon, but you have to admire a career that to date has spawned 59 poles,  76 wins, 4 championships, a lifetime contact with the owner, and a legion of diehard haters.

Gordon is always one to watch at Talladega.  But next weekend, I think he'll have a few more people anxiously waiting to see if he can win it. 

I, for one, think that Earnhardt would get a good chuckle out of the irony if Gordon wins.

 

What Could Have Been

Originally Posted on April 2, 2007 on foxsports.com

Jeff Gordon stands in third position of modern era winners, with 75 wins.  He has not won in 24 races, since late last summer.  One win ahead of him on the list is the late, great Dale Earnhardt.  At 84 wins, atop the standings, rests Darrell Waltrip.  Of the remaining top 10 drivers, only three are active - Gordon, Bill Elliott (who drives an occasional race each year) and Mark Martin, who is semi-retired/who knows this week. 

Of the top three, Gordon is the only one still running Nextel Cup races.  Gordon had the perfect opportunity to tie Earnhardt's record at Martinsville.  He was racing with his Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson, beating and banging on each other's front fenders and doors.  Johnson held on and won the race.

As the two were battling out who would win, I imagined what Dale Earnhardt would have done in the same situation.  It wasn't difficult, as Earnhardt memorably won several races by bumping the leader out of the way.

I thought how fitting it would be if Gordon had tied Earnhardt's record by using the same tactic.  Sure, a thumping of the rest of the field would be great too, but  I think Earnhardt would have been the first to raise the toast of a glass of milk if Gordon had bumped his teammate out of the way for the win.

Gordon's Other Drive For Five

Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on August 1, 2006

Jeff Gordon won the inaugral Brickyard 400 in 1994.  Since then, he has won it three more times.  Other multi-time winners of the Brickyard 400:  Dale Jarrett.    Only eight drivers have won the event, and of those winners only five are still active in Nextel Cup. 

This weekend, Gordon will drive for five - his fifth win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Of the winners at IMS, only five drivers have won four or more times:  AJ Foyt - Indy 500s; Al Unser - Indy 500s; Rick Mears - Indy 500s; Michael Schumacher - US GPs and Jeff Gordon - Brickyard 400s.  Schumacher won his 5th US Grand Prix in July.  

Gordon would love to add his name as a five time winner of the Brickyard 400.  As a self-proclaimed Hoosier, Gordon loves winning at IMS.  It doesn't hurt that it has one of the largest payouts - second only to Daytona and is the largest crowd - at 250,000 grandstand seats.  IMS boasts that it holds "spectacles" in racing, and Gordon has beheld the "spectacle" four times. 

Additionally, Gordon knows that four times the winner of the Brickyard 400 has gone on to win the Championship - Jarrett in 1999; Labonte in 2000; Gordon in 2001; and Stewart in 2005.  Incidently, Gordon won the Brickyard in 2004, and under the old format would have won the Championship.

Who will try to stop Gordon's drive for five?  Tony Stewart would love to become the first back to back winner at Indy.  Ryan Newman, a native Hoosier, would do anything to win this race, as would Kasey Kahne, last year's runner-up.  Casey Mears wants to win where his Uncle Rick has won four times - and the Indiana crowd would love to see a Mears in victory lane again.  Dale Earnhardt Jr recognizes that the Brickyard win of his father was a big deal, but so far he has not run well at Indy.  Denny Hamlin's domination at Pocono, another flat track, puts him at the head of the list to be the first rookie winner at the 400.

As the Chase looms ever closer, drivers are losing patience - patience with their teams, patience with other drivers and patience with themselves.  Indy is a flat track, but expect there to be several crashes - and plenty of opportunities to get swept up into someone else's problems.  Jimmie Johnson had problems here last year - walking away in a daze after a hard hit of the wall.  Dale Jr.  has had crash problems at Indy too - which is not good coming off two terrible finishes.  Elliott Sadler has been fast, but problems with a flat tire didn't give him the finish he deserved last year.

It's guaranteed to be a hot day in Indy on Sunday - for more than one reason.

 

Ken Schrader: Villain or Hero?

Originally Posted on May 15, 2006 on foxsports.com

In Saturday night's race at Darlington, Ken Schrader had two incidents involving Hendrick Motorsports drivers. 

In the first incident, which was the last pit stop of the race, Schrader was coming on pit road.  He was driving on the right hand side of the entry/exit lane, so he had to cross over the other lane to get into his pit box.  Nearly all the cars on the lead lap had come in during this round of green flag stops.  As Schrader did so, Jimmie Johnson, who was trying to get out as the third car on the lead lap, was exiting his pit box upon completing his pit stop.

As Johnson merged right, Schrader merged left.  Schrader was ahead of Johnson and was slowing, which caused Johnson to practically stop in pit lane.  Johnson went out on to the track in fourth place, several seconds behind the leaders.  Johnson didn't blame Schrader, but called it one of "those racing deals."

After pit stops, Jeff Gordon was chasing down leader Greg Biffle.  The lapped traffic was slowing down Biffle, and Gordon was rapidly catching him (thanks in part to one lap newer tires).  On the final lap, Biffle came up on Schrader, who was running in 15th place still on the lead lap.  Schrader yielded his lane and line to Biffle. 

By the time Gordon reached Schrader's bumper, Schrader yielded his lane again.  However, Gordon had been running a unique line through the corner which required 2 lanes.  Gordon was unhappy that Schrader hadn't (apparently) pulled on the apron to let him pass.  His comment was that Schrader cost him the race.

Conspiracy theorists will think that Schrader, who drives a Ford, was blocking for Biffle, another Ford driver.  Or they think that Schrader has it in for Hendrick Motorsports.

The reality is that the timing of the pass was off - whether that was due to Schrader, Biffle, Gordon or just how things happened.  Schrader was probably not watching the line Gordon was taking through the corners, and had no idea what Gordon wanted.  Additionally, Schrader had his finish to think about as well.

Whether you think Schrader is the villian in this or the hero probably says more about your driver or manufacturer alligence than it does about what happened. 

Because it was just racing at Darlington.

Texas Tangles: Was this a Short Track? Or just a return to Busch Brother Bashing?

Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on April 9, 2006.

Nascar finished its Texas weekend, celebrated 10 years of racing at the facility, and managed to continue the Busch Brother Bashing that had been going on for several races. 

Kurt Busch v. Greg Biffle:  Although the President had a taped greeting at the track, the majority of the Busch Bashing this weekend was betwen Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle.  Biffle's car had been strong during the first 50 or so laps, but he was cycled out of the lead due to pit stops.  As he was working his way back to the front, he came across Kurt Busch.  Whether Busch or Biffle was to blame for what happened next depends on your point of view.  Busch, who  was down a lap, end up running into Biffle's back bumper, causing him to crash.  Biffle blamed Busch for ended his day.  Biffle's girlfriend, Nicole Lunders, walked to Busch's pit box and had words with Busch's fiancee Eva Bryan. 

Kurt Busch vs. the Media? The news media wanted Busch's reaction to Biffle's wrech after the race.  Busch gave an explanation blaming Biffle for coming up in front of him and slowing down.  When another reporter asked him what happened, Busch snapped back at them that he had answered the question and stormed off into his hauler.  He later came back out and answered a few more questions.  Apparently the Penske PR people have not quite worked their magic with Kurt...

Clint Bowyer vs. Kyle Busch:  Late in the race, Bowyer opted to take 2 tires instead of 4 to gain track position.  As he was sliding backwards in the field, he began racing with Kyle Busch for position.  As they raced, Bowyer crashed.  Bowyer claimed Busch got into him, Busch claimed Bowyer did it on his own.  The tape is unclear.   Given that Bowyer is a rookie and Kyle Busch is,  well, Kyle Busch, both are probably at fault in some way.

Carl Edwards vs. Jeff Gordon vs. Tony Stewart?  Carl Edwards, who was in third place, was racing with Jeff Gordon, who was a lap or two down.  Edwards got out of shape, hit Gordon, hit the wall, narrowly missed hitting Stewart and then crashed into the inside wall.  Needless to say, he was out of the race at that point.  Reporters questioned Edwards and asked if Gordon or Stewart caused the accident, Edwards denied it  and said it was just him pushing too hard at the time.  After the race, reporters went to Stewart and asked him what he thought happened - Stewart said Edwards was driving too hard ("in over his head") and lost it, then commented he was glad Edwards was OK because it looked like a hard hit into the wall.  In other words, the drivers didn't have issues with each other, but the reporters tried to generate a fight.  No one appears to have taken the bait.

Busch Series Racing Notes:  Kurt Busch won his first race in the Busch series, and to celebrate, he did his "trademark" snow angel.  I admit it was somewhat charming at Bristol where it had snowed all weekend, but I'm not sure it should be his "trademark" celebration.

Reed Sorenson may be penalized after it appeared he threw a piece of his rollbar padding/insulation onto the track to cause a caution.  He then called in that there was debris in the corner.  The Fox cameras caught the piece of foam flying out the window - it didn't seem to be certain that Sorenson threw it, but he was penalized by Nascar for the infraction (he was sent to the end of the line and lost about 5 places).  Nascar may exact a point penalty as well. 

More interesting was a conversation that Kyle Busch and his crew chief had immediately after that accident.  Busch was warned not to throw anything on the track to cause a caution because they had caught Sorenson.  Busch replied that he didn't have anything to throw.  Seconds later he remarked it would be stupid to do it since he had an in-car camera. 

You'll remember that Greg Biffle eventually won a Busch race when someone caused a caution by throwing a glove onto the track.  Nascar never found out who caused the caution or lost the glove.   Hmm...

 

My Martinsville Musings

Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on April 3, 2006.

Ah, Martinsville.  The paperclip.  Two drag strips connected with two hairpin turns.  Whatever you call it, don't leave without eating a hotdog!  {Seriously, the teams nearly boycotted last year when the condiments and wrapper were changed. }   The race for the most part was uneventful - at least compared to last week at Bristol.  There were still some interesting storylines...

A crash on lap 2 took several cars out of contention for the win.  The groaning you heard across the country was due to the red #8 being involved.  By the end of the race, Junior had "crashed" again, managed to stay on the lead lap, work his way through traffic, and finish 4th after getting by Kyle Busch.  I don't know that there was much to salvage on the car when it hit the hauler - three of the four corners of the car were missing, based in, or dented and  half the brake fan system was gone.  Most impressive was that the team did not give up - which is a marked difference in attitude from last year at this time.

The lap 2 crash ended Robby Gordon's day.  Robby, one of few owner/drivers, was in the top 15 in points prior to the race, but due to the DNF is 27th in points.

Despite the multiple on track incidents throughout the race, there did not appear to be any Bristol pay-backs.  Jimmie Johnson commented on this after the race - his point was that if the media would quite playing it up, there would be more.  According to Johnson, no one will do it when they know the media is looking to pounce on it, so if they lay off, the paybacks will come.  An interesting theory to be sure.

The one feud that has started is Denny Hamlin vs. Mark Martin.  I'm not clear on what happened, but Hamlin expressed his displeasure with Martin due to two run-ins on the track - one at Las Vegas and one at Martinsville.  Martin has not commented at this point to my knowledge, and Hamlin acknowledged that he still respects Martin but whats to know why he has been singled out.  Knowing Martin, this will be a non-issue by Texas.

The Dodge teams continue to have some trouble with the Charger - their highest finisher was Scott Riggs in 10th.  The highest finishing rookie was Reed Sorenson in a Dodge (12th)

What happened to all the discussion of Roush Racing domination?  The highest finisher was McMurray in 9th, followed by Martin (13th), Edwards (16th), Kenseth (24th) and Biffle (31st).

Jeff Gordon has stalking at Martinsville down to a science.  He's won there 7 times  - and the last few has appeared out of nowhere at the end.  He likes to spice it up - this time he got a flat tire early in the race, which caused a caution.  Conspiracy theorists point out that while Gordon got a caution with no debris apparent on the track, a couple other spins, tire-blow outs and debris went unflagged during the race. 

Does anyone else think that Jeff Gordon's two teammates cut him a break on the final two laps when he slipped on the speedy dry?  I think if any other two cars had been right behind him, he would have been shown the wall.

For a guy edging toward retirement, Mark Martin is sure charging up the points standings - he's currently in 2nd behind Jimmie Johnson.

Since it was Martinsville, I wondered how quickly Stewart would mention the Hendrick Motorsports plane crash in his victory speech.  It was practically the first few words out of his mouth.  In Oct 2004, his pilot, Scott Lathram was on the plane, coming to Martinsville to see Stewart before Lathram left for Iraq.  Apparently Stewart hasn't forgotten him - and still has information on his website to make a donation to Lathram's Memorial Fund.

I don't know which is more fun - watching Tony Stewart climb the fence after he wins or watching him spray Jimmy Spencer with a Coke during the victory lane broadcast.

My vote for one of the coolest trophys anywhere is the Grandfather Clock given at Martinsville, although I'm fond of the "brick" trophy at Indy and the glass palm trees at Darlington.

Will Fine Motivate Gordon? Or Kenseth?

Originally Posted on March 30, 2006 on Foxsports.com

At the final laps of the Bristol race last weekend, Matt Kenseth and Jeff Gordon had a dust up.  At the end, Kenseth spun Gordon out of 3rd place.  Gordon finished the race as the last car on the lead lap in 21st place. 

After the cars were parked on pit road, Kenseth approached Gordon with up-turned palms - to apologize Kenseth said later.  Gordon, still in his helmet, shoved Kenseth.  Nascar fined him $10,000 for the shove.  Kenseth also appologized to his team for losing another race.  Kenseth has been leading in the closing laps of the race twice this year, but hasn't been able to close the deal.

The series heads to another short track this weekend - Martinsville.  Gordon swept both races last year.  The question is whether Gordon goes in with the most motivation or if Kenseth has the momentum to win.

Both drivers have, or will, claim to put Bristol behind them.  But is that really human nature?  And is it really wise to do so when it could motivate their teams?  Why not use that angst over lower finishes than they could have had?

Kenseth was bumped out of the lead by Kurt Busch, the eventual winner, after he was held up by Dale Jarrett.  Kenseth has led laps and has run well.  He's run well enough to be in 1st in the drivers' standings.

Gordon was spun out of his spot by Kenseth.  Gordon has been struggling with some of the tracks and his car, but appears to be on the verge of putting it all together - consistantly.  He is in the top 10 in points. 

But both could use something to truly elevate their game.  Kenseth is running hot now, but was horribly inconsistant last year and had to dig his way out of a points hole before the chase.  Gordon had major problems and turnover on his team last year, even though he won 4 races.

Maybe their Bristol Bash can be the spark that really starts their season on fire.

Top 11 Ways For Jeff Gordon To Generate $10,000 to Pay a Fine

Originally Posted on March 28, 2006 on Foxsports.com

11.  Borrow money from ex-wife.

10.  Only 1% of $1 million bonus from finishing 11th last year.  Oh, wait, spent that on trips to South Africa and Paris.

9.  Charge appearance fee from Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for their radio shows (@ $5,000 each.) 

8.  Savings from not renting tuxedo for last year's award banquet.

7.  Fine Chad Knaus for missing 4 races as owner of the car. 

6.  Ask girlfriend if you can sell pictures of her for swimsuit calendar.

5.  Design "new" pit cap logo.  "Drive for fine"

4.  Auction off helmet from race on e-bay.  (Ask Kenseth to sell his firesuit with it).

3.  Steal Brian Vickers' hair care supply and sell it to Boris Said, Kasey Kahne, Casey Mears and Jimmy Spencer.

2.  Fee for small role in  "Spaceballs II:  Revenge of the Rainbow Warriors"

1.  New sponsor for the car.  "Tony Stewart's Anger Managment Seminar"

 

Gordon's Drive for Five Thwarted for Years ... By Tony Stewart?

Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on February 3, 2006.

Jeff Gordon is a four time Cup champion, winning in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001.  To date, Gordon has 73 wins in the Cup series.  Since his last championship, Gordon has been mounting a "Drive for Five" - his fifth Cup championship.   However, since his championship in  2001, he has not finished higher than 3rd in the point standings. 

Gordon had a hot streak going in 1996 through 1998 - he won at least 10 races each year (with a 13 win season in 1998). He had over 21 top five finishes in each of those years.

Then in 1999, things started to go downhill for Gordon - the most wins he has had in a season is 7 and the most top 5 finishes is 18.  Aside from the championship in 2001, Gordon hasn't finished higher than 3rd.  In the 1992-1998 seasons, Gordon amassed 3 Cup trophies, 42 wins, 100 top 5 finishes, and 123 top ten finishes.  In the 1999-2005 seasons, Gordon won 1 Cup trophy, 31 wins, 99 top 5 finishes and 146 top 10 finishes.  A record any racer would kill to have, but a bit off the pace Gordon had set in his early years.

2005 was a dismal year for Gordon - a mere 4 wins, 8 top 5s, and 14 top 10 finishes.  He finished the lowest he has since his rookie year - 11th in points.

Why the sudden stop in his success?  Maybe because Tony Stewart joined the Cup series in 1999.  Stewart stormed in and finished the year with 3 wins (the most ever by a rookie).  He finished 4th place in points that year.  Gordon finished 6th.

Since Stewart started racing in the Cup series, he has finished four years ahead of Gordon in points - including winning two championships to Gordon's one during the time they were racing head to head.  While Gordon still has more wins over the period Stewart has been in Cup (31 vs. 24), Stewart has the edge on top 10 finishes (149 vs. 146).

Granted the parity of Cup racing has improved in recent times - and Hendrick Motorsports, Gordon's team, probably had an edge in  the mid-1990's in technology and  team dynamics.  Gordon also lost his crew chief, Ray Evernham,  in 1999.   And there have been several drivers added to the series since 1999 who have regularly won races, and finished well (Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman, and Kurt Busch to name a few). 

But Gordon's decline in wins, and top finishes started in 1999 - when Stewart hit the scene.  It seems the answer to Gordon's failure to get a 5th championship is that Stewart is stealing points from him!

 

Championship Predictions Based on Rookie of the Year?

Originally posted at Foxsports.com on January 2, 2006.

The pattern of Nextel Cup Champions  and Rookie of the Year winners over the past few years:  3 years into their career, many drivers peak and become series champions. 

For example, in 1999, Tony Stewart was the Rookie of the Year (ROTY).  He won the (then) Winston Cup Championship in 2002. A year after Stewart was ROTY, Matt Kenseth was ROTY, and turned around an won the championship in 2003.  Both of those championships were won under the "old" series point system.  Kurt Busch upheld the tradition by being a rookie, but not ROTY in 2001, and winning the championship in 2004 under the "new" Chase format. (Jeff Gordon won his fourth championship in 2001).

This isn't entirely a new trend.  Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon initially set the bar high by winning their championships in less than 3 years.  Earnhardt won his first championship the year following his ROTY season. Gordon was ROTY in 1993 and won his first championship in 1995.

In 2002, Ryan Newman claimed the ROTY trophy over Jimmie Johnson.  Both were in contention for the championship this year but were foiled by Stewart.

What does that mean for the rookie class of 2003 and the Championship in 2006?  In 2003, Greg Biffle and Jamie McMurray battled for ROTY honors.  McMurray won ROTY honors that year, but Biffle was on a hot streak in 2005.   Biffle is a clear favorite by most commentators as a contender for the 2006 Championship.   Many believe that McMurray, now in Jack Roush's cars, could also be a contender for the Cup.

With the Chase to the Nextel Cup now instituted, in theory any of the top ten drivers could win the championship.  All Biffle and McMurray need to do to continue the pattern is make the Chase and stay consistent.