Intercepted Nascar Emails

Originally Posted on Foxsports on September 26, 2007.


Saturday, September 1, 2007 7:48:02 a.m.
Kyle - Just a quick note about the Toyota thing.  Please, Please, Please don't mention it again.  We want to do a big roll out, and we're concerned about how your current employer and the other Chevy guys will take it.  We'd like to win a Championship, and I'm sure you personally would too.  Let's not sink the ship before it's time.  Give me a call if you have any questions.   J.D.
PS - DO NOT MENTION THE M&M DEAL!!!
PPS - If this is the worst thing you ever do, it's no big deal.  I mean, we've dealt with Tony for how long?!?

Sunday, September 9, 2007 5:02:34 a.m.
Bro - I don't know what else we can do to help him out.  I mean we added two drivers to the Chase to make it easier for him to get in, and he still doesn't make it.  Ratings will plummet unless he wins a race this year.  Any ideas who the new sponsor will be?  Frankly I think Bud is out of their freaking mind to let him go.  But then again, they're also walking out of the Busch series deal.  Well, this latest debacle has driven me to drink too.  Any luck with the football team plan?  Sis
PS  - Rumor has it that Smith is trying to buy NHIS.  Sucker.  Like we'll let him move another race, especially to  Vegas.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007 10:23:58 p.m.
Jade - I know I'm moving on from Budweiser, but do you think they'll keep stocking my cooler?  I won't have a beer or liquor sponsor.   I promise to show up once and a while with an old hat or T-shirt.  Thanks for checking for me.  Junior

Saturday, September 15, 2007 6:33:09 p.m.
Champ - Don't worry about failing to qualify at NHIS.  Sometimes it takes a while to get the hang of qualifying, and there are a lot of fast cars that don't make the show each week.  We'll see if it works to add a race later this season.  RP

Monday, September 17, 2007 1:37:55 a.m.
Clint - Congratulations on the win!!  Once I'm back, we'll celebrate in style - that first win is a big deal.  Earnhardt always wanted to go hunting, but we'll figure out what you'd like to do.  Do you think you'll have time to help Austin out again at the dirt track?   Don't let Harvick talk you into anything!  If all goes well, I should have some yak steak to celebrate with by the end of this week.  Enjoy the sponsor in your victory celebration.  Richard

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 8:30:04 p.m.
Kasey - Congrats on the Bud sponsorship.  It is awesome!  If you enjoy it half as much as I have, you will think you've died and gone to heaven.  I have to say, I'm delighted it didn't stay with my step-mother's company.  Karma, I guess.  Junior
PS - If you happen to have any "extra" Bud, I'd be glad to take it off your hands!

Saturday, September 22, 2007 6:23:22 p.m.
Champ - Don't worry about failing to qualify at NHIS  Dover.  Sometimes it takes a while to get the hang of qualifying, and there are a lot of fast cars that don't make the show each week.  We'll see if it works to add a race later this season.  RP

Sunday, September 23, 2007  11:08:43 p.m.
Hammy,   I told you that regardless what happens on the track, the garage stall is SACRED!  How could you let Kyle walk into your garage stall, flip your visor, and scold you like a toddler?!  Are you a man or a mouse?  I'd never take that from another competitor.  In fact, I've had scuffles with Jeff and Robby Gordon when they tried to walk INTO my garage stall to continue an argument.  You need to work on that - I mean the Petty Golden Boy will hardly even draw a PENALTY for it.  Quit worrying about the anger management courses - they're a breeze.  And it's not like Joe or JD will take you to task for it.  You're a proven winner.  Smoke.

Sunday September 23, 2007 11:10:00 p.m.
Kyle - Denny Hamlin?!?  I mean, can't you talk to someone who needs it like Juan Pablo Montoya?!?   Happy

Sunday, September 23, 2007 11:12:02 p.m.
Muscle Man - Heard about your height problem.  Don't let this get you down - Nascar may take some points, but you can do what I haven't done - win the Championship.  Nascar took a bunch of points from me once, and I lost the Championship.  I always figured it was a way to get back at Jack.  But I think they are over that now.  In any event, I'm calling you out again - keep winning and prove them wrong.  Your car looked great today.  MM

Sunday September 23, 2007 11:15 p.m.
Kyle - Flipping open his visor?  That was classic!  My teammate didn't have any idea what to do about it.  I don't think they'll even touch you with a penalty.  It looked like a father lecturing a son.  Maybe you should try it next weekend on Montoya!  Smoke.

Sunday, September 23, 2007 11:44:17 p.m.
Mr. Petty, Thank you for finally doing to Denny Hamlin what should have been done a long time ago - put him in his place.  He obviously didn't take it well, but he needs to learn the world doesn't revolve around him.  Thanks again, Kristin Buntain, his ex-girlfriend

Sunday September 23, 2007 11: 48:41
KP - Can we get together and discuss what happened with Hamlin?  I just don't understand what happened there - it would never happen like that in Formula One.  Should I be doing that in the garage when people cause me to crash?  Give me a call.  Thank you.  JPM

So-No-Mon-Toya?

Originally Posted on foxsports.com on June 19, 2007

Ah, Sonoma. Where things slow down to the point of fermentation. This week, the Nascar boys add right hand turns to their repertoire and slow things down as they tackle the road course at Infineon.

This week marks the first race where Juan Pablo Montoya could steal the spotlight. And the week where the pressure will be on Montoya to perform. As a Formula One winner, the road courses should be Montoya's forte on the Cup circuit.

What is Sonoma compared to Monaco? Or Spa? Or Monza?

Montoya delivered in his first chance at Nascar glory in Mexico City during the Busch race. Of Course, it took aggressive driving, and spinning a teammate at the end of the race to make it happen.

Will Montoya go to such lengths again? Or will he be content to finish with a top 5? 10? 25? Or will he want to win in his rookie season so badly that not even Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart can stop him?

I think he'll be ready to go... Otherwise, there's always Watkins Glen in August...

Juan Pablo Montoya: Quickly Moving to Speed

Originally Posted on October 17, 2006 on Foxsports.com

Juan Pablo Montoya ran his second stock car race Sunday at the new Iowa Speedway.  Montoya had a few struggles, but overall showed he is ready for the next step toward his Cup career.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montoya qualifed third - behind polesitter Steven Wallace but ahead of the rest of the field, including ARCA series winner Frank Kimmel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montoya attempted to jump past Wallace at the start, but had to wait a lap to accomplish the pass.  He then led until lap 19 when he moved up the track in front of Wallace.  Wallace ran into the back of Montoya spinning him nose first into the wall.  Wallace was able to pit and continue on - Montoya had to sit a few laps before repairs were complete.

Montoya drove quick laps, showing that his reputation for speed translated from Indy Cars to Formula One to stock cars.  When he was back on the track, Montoya ran flat out - even with a damaged car.  If he hadn't had the damage, it is entirely possible Montoya may have lapped more cars than Wallace did. 

In one of his more impressive laps, Montoya took it three-wide at the start-finish line, threewide again coming out of two, and threewide the third time coming out of four.  Six cars passed in one lap - some of them lapped cars, a couple of them cars on the lead lap - and one of them was the eventual 2nd place finisher, Kraig Kinser.   All with a car with a damaged/missing right front.

Equally impressive (and somewhat surprising) was that Montoya was a crowd favorite - almost more than Steven Wallace, Rusty's son (it is a Rusty designed track), and clearly more than Frank Kimmel ( a car owned by an Iowan) or the Iowa drivers in the field (and there were several).

I think Montoya will be a fun rookie to watch next year - his reputation as a savvy driver, quick on the gas, and ablility to make a quick start will serve him well in the Nextel Cup Series.  Given the fan reaction on Sunday, the fans are anxious to see him do well in the stock car.

Juan Pablo Montoya: Off to a Fast Start and On the Fast Track

Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on October 5, 2006

Tomorrow night Juan Pablo Montoya will make his stock car debut in the Food World 250 ARCA race at Talladega, Alabama. 

Over the past couple weeks, Montoya has been practicing in various stock cars.  First, he drove an ARCA car at Talladega to test the new pavement (and his new ride).  Talladega is a fast 2.66 mile track, with its emphasis on raw horsepower, speed and avoiding a big wreck.  The track's importance to Montoya is two-fold:  he needs experience at a restrictor plate track to pass Nascar's requirements to race in the Daytona 500 next year, & he needs to gain experience racing a stock car.

Montoya then traveled to Iowa to drive the ARCA car at the new Iowa Speedway.   The Iowa Speedway is billed as a 7/8 mile track with an emphasis on the driving skills.  It is unclear whether Montoya will race at the ARCA race at Iowa Speedway scheduled for next weekend, but his lap times at the track indicate he would be a force to be reckoned with if he does.

On both tracks, it did not take Montoya long to adjust.  In a short time he was turning laps like a veteran driver.  In fact, Montoya qualified his ARCA car on the outside front row for the Talladega race tomorrow.

In addition to his ARCA tests, Montoya tested a Nextel Cup car at Kentucky in a closed session.  Presumably that went well.  Montoya has the benefit of veteran crew chief Brad Parrott to help him acclimate to the stock car. 

It shouldn't come as any surprise that Montoya is making progress in stock cars.  His whole career has been one success after another.  In his 137 starts in the CART, Indy Car and Formula One series, Montoya has 18 wins, 26 poles, 60 top five finishes and 79 top 10 finishes, including the 2000 Indianapolis 500 and a Monaco Grand Prix.  In his 5 complete F1 seasons, Montoya finished 6th or better. 

Montoya has now set his sights on Nascar, with hopes that he can continue his winning tradition.

His first big step will be tomorrow night.  The Food World 250 will be  broadcast on SPEED channel at 7 p.m.

 

From Formula One to Nascar: Juan Pablo Montoya Makes the Jump

Originally Posted on July 9, 2006 on Foxsports.com

At Chicagoland Speedway this morning, Chip Ganassi announced his old driver in a new car:  Juan Pablo Montoya will drive the #42 Cup car, replacing Casey Mears.

Juan Pablo Montoya currently races in Formula One for McLaren, one of the premier teams in F1. Montoya will finish the current season with McLaren, and will race for Ganassi in 2007.

Ganassi and Montoya have  a history together - Montoya won the Indy 500  for Ganassi in 2000.  It was Montoya's first and only start in the 500.  The next year, Montoya jumped to F1.

People in F1 have to be stunned - they view themselves as the best drivers in the world.  Clearly, they are the most technologically advanced.  Why give up a ride with a car worth millions for a car that doesn't have traction control?  F1 lovers have to view this as a step back to horse and carriage days.

Montoya answered that question by saying he wants to get back to racing.  The schedule in F1 has about 1/3 the races in a Cup season, but they are far flung.  Montoya referenced the travel time as reason he wants to race in Nascar.  F1 races in Dubai, Germany, Belgium, England, Australia, Brazil, Monaco.  While Nascar visits far flung places like Watkins Glen, NY, and Sonoma, CA.

Montoya took a test drive in Jeff Gordon's Cup car a few years ago.  He claims he liked the car - and he looks forward to racing the Nascar stars next year.  It was apparent from the news conference that Ganassi and Montoya were excited.

Montoya was asked why he'd take a pay cut to race Nascar.  He dodged the question, but commented that he was happy with the amount.  Ganassi claimed Montoya named his price and he paid it.

This will be a monumental development for Nascar - it gives them some legitimacy in F1 racing (or at least some publicity). It gives them a famous Columbian driver.  It gives them a great spokesman for the series (and Ganassi), and it gives the series a respected driver, not a developmental driver whom fewer than 1,000 people know.

As a fan who has followed Montoya for years, my only question is: Where do I buy a Montoya T-Shirt?