Life, Through Tinted Shades

Sports fan can be so fickle. It's not just a case of in motorsport, but in all forms. It's great to support sports, but how die-hard some get always baffles me. Is it that important that it encompasses your entire life. Better yet, that you blindly to the point where even in the face of a bald faced truth, you still can't accept it.

At times, it reminds me of religion. I consider myself an open minded person. Do I believe everything told to me. Hell no? I try to keep an open mind on things, so that I can better understand all sides of an discussion. But there are those that cling to something like their very existence depended on it – and to refute such belief would be tantamount to trying to talk the Pope out of the idea that there is no God.

It is the same with sports. Before I start, let me state, I don't lump all sports fans into this category. I am not out here to make generalisations and to lump everyone into one category. But I do see an unfortunately growing trend.

A recent high profile example is Cristiano Ronaldo. Up until about two months ago, he was adored by the United faithful. Now, with his move to Real Madrid, he is the subject of public scorn by those who once cheered his name. His past exploits forgotten as he 'betrayed' them. The fact he has won everything he possibly can in England is irrelevant, nor is the opportunity to play with one of footballs historic teams.

That is just one example. There are countless others. It's pretty sickening the crap you see on message boards. It sometimes makes me wonder why I bother writing. The internet is a great forum for debate, but a lot of people just use it as a way to bully their point across.You look at the majority of sporting forums and they are full of ignorant people, most who lack such basic things as grammar and spelling skills.

There is no incentive to write a well versed debatable post when it surrounded by such garbage. I don't even bother looking at forum discussions anymore because there just is no point. People either see it as bias and unfair to their favourite team or sports star or just plainly resort to name calling.

It makes you wonder about these guys away from the computer. Before, I'd used to think that these are the sort of people who would never speak out in public. They use the Internet as a faceless way to speak their mind without any repercussions. Lets them feel high and mighty about it all.

Increasingly however, especially with the youth of today, such disrespect for others carries over. Not just in the sporting realm, but in all aspects of life. The attitude of the youth of today is down right despicable. Honestly, I don't remember being like that at all in my day – and that was only about ten to twelve years ago. How things have changed. Like I said at the top, I don't think all people are like this, but it just feels that there is a growing number of people with this narrow minded approach on life.

The most prevalent motorsporting example of this comes from America (see, I had to work in motorsport at some point.) The big 'feud' right now in Nascar is between long time fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Junior and public enemy number one, Kyle Busch.

To recap briefly, this whole thing started with Busch being dropped at Hendricks in favor of Junior. The major boiling point came at Richmond last year, when in a battle for the lead, Busch tapped Junior into a spin, denying him a victory. (At this point, Junior was still on a long win-less streak with the exception of a non-championship win at Daytona at the start of the year.) The funny thing is, Earnhardt himself had a carbon copy incident at the same race this year, spinning Jeff Burton out. But of course, no public outcry there.

Earnhardt Nation cried foul. Queue beer cans on the track (a common thing mind you when someone rattled up the 'Nation and calls for the head of Kyle Busch. Thus began the feud.

Busch became an hated individual amongst a majority of fans. One thing I liked about Busch was that he relished it. He could've been meek and tried to smooth things over. Instead, he relished the role of the bad guy and played it up. He developed his character of the bad guy, but still played fair (depending on who's opinion you gauge) on the track. Theatrical bows followed his victories to the crowd as the Las Vegas native tore up the track. Countless victories followed, while Earnhardt has one solitary championship victory to his name at this point.

His success only riled those who hate him on. But his driving style has seen him garner many fans. Busch's desire to race anything and everything is something that I love about the guy. On numerous occasions, he has raced three times in the one weekend. He wants to race, he wants to win and he is not afraid to use all the track. Busch is probably the only guy who can go three wide on a track all by himself.

Unfortunately, he doesn't always put himself in the right light, which I think hurts him with some of the neutrals. On the track, he is awesome. But off the track he does need some work. The guitar smashing incident at Nashville this year is a perfect example of that. While he had his reasons for it, there was probably a better way to go around it.

From my standpoint, I'd be concerned with his desire to outdo Earnhardt Nation. Yes, if I was Busch, I would feel aggrieved that a bunch of narrow minded fans were giving him hell for no other reason that he once spun him out. This is Nascar, people get spun all the time. But at the end of the day, Busch is clearly the more talented driver. Earnhardt, while popular, is never going to match his fathers achievements. Kyle needs to rise himself above that and focus on setting his own benchmarks.

People dig at him for not wanting to talk after he's not had a good race. The guy wants to win. I thought America was all about that. They love winners, hate losers. Yet when Busch doesn't want to be chatty after a race, they label him a cry baby and sore loser. I always find it interesting how values that American's hold so tightly are thrown out the window just because they hate the guy.

It was the same again last weekend after Daytona. Busch got in a tangle on the final straight while leading and crashed. He stalked off, not wanting to talk. Those who don't like him bitched and moaned, reciting the fact that he was a cry baby and didn't want to talk.

Here is a reality check. If you have had a good race turned sour, the last thing you want to do is talk. I've experienced this in my sim-racing career. Hell, I've gone through a patch of five races where I've had a great car only to have terrible results. The last thing I want to do is talk about it, and if I do to someone, there is usually an expletive every third or fourth word.

So why should Busch give those who are on his back further ammunition? Had he spoken right there and then, he would've. His decision not to speak, if you ask me, is the best one. Cool down, review what happened, talk in private rather than airing it all to the public.

I'll finish up with returning to the ideal of narrow-minded fans. See, Junior inherited many of his fans who supported his father. The funny thing is, Kyle Busch probably has more in common with Earnhardt Senior than Junior has. Yet, because his name isn't Earnhardt, they don't see it. I think trying to compare Senior's style to Busch would be again, like trying to talk the Pope about God. You would be lynched and locked up for it.

The strange thing is, fans cry out for drivers with character. So often they complain that the drivers are strictly controlled and un-interesting. The greatest example of his is Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon. Both are often accused of being cookie-cutter drivers, very politically correct. But then when someone breaks the mould, he is chastised for it. It's irritating, if you ask me. They want drivers with attitude, but only in a certain shape or form.

Suffice to say, this is a problem that is only going to get worse, one I doubt will ever truly get better. The people I feel for most are the open minded fans. No longer do we have a forum for frank, open discussions. Instead, we are left simply to chat to ourselves as the haters rule the world.

F109 Countdown: Toyota

Toyota:
2008 Results
Best Finish: 2nd (Timo Glock at the Hungarian Grand Prix)
Points Scored: 56
Championship Position: 5th
2009 Drivers: Jarno Trulli & Timo Glock

Last year Toyota finally looked to have turned a corner. After an impressive 2005 season, the Japanese giant has been in the doldrums. Hopes are high that they might actually achieve something this year.

They haven’t been shy about talking up the TF109. Granted, that probably isn’t anything new for Toyota who have talked the talk, but rarely walked the walk. More often than not, early promise has faded into mid-field obscurity.

In 2008, the team appeared to buck the trend. A podium a piece for their drivers was bolstered by a season long ability to score points. Only five times last year did Toyota not have at least one of their drivers in the points. At this stage, Toyota needs to perform. With Honda’s pullout, many eyes rest on Toyota as the next to pull the plug. Recently, the team has stated that they were close to a similar decision.

Toyota is entering its eight year of Formula One. Yet, we still wait for them to do something noteworthy. Pole positions and podiums are all well and good, but everyone remembers the winners. Given the success Toyota has found in Nascar, I’m surprised they haven’t focused more of their efforts on that side of the Atlantic.

Like the majority of teams, Toyota has chosen to retain both Trulli and Glock. I figured Trulli was on the chopping block at the start of last year. Instead, the Italian shocked everyone with some great early season runs. It was the sort of performances that we rarely see from him. Too often, he goes to sleep mid-race, showing only glimpses of the raw speed he has.

Then I realised, his contract was up at the end of 2008. It seemed like once he was more or less assured to stay with the team, the old Jarno returned. Maybe Toyota needs to threaten him with the sack before every race to get the most out of him.

With Timo Glock, Toyota has an aspiring star that has the potential to make it big. His early season struggles were soon forgotten as he found his feet at the top level. By the end of the season, he was regularly beating his vastly experienced team-mate. His podium at Hungary was not a case of good fortune, but on the skill of the German.

If Toyota has a car that is competitive, maybe, just maybe, they will finally break their duck and win that first race. It’s time to put up, or shut up.

The American Dream

As the weeks roll on, the USF1 project seemingly has a leg to stand on. When I first heard about this project, I was definitely sceptical. Actually, I still am.

How many times has a new team project being floated around the media, only for them to disappear into oblivion. The most recent of which being Prodrive. A whole lot of singing and dancing came from David Richards. They even won the right for the tender for the then twelfth team on the grid. They should have being on the grid at the start of 2008, but the team failed to appear after the customer car row went against their ideals.

If this project had come up a couple of years ago, it would have made perfect sense. However, North America has lost both its races in recent years, leaving Formula One with no beachhead in the country. While there has been talk about a return, nothing is set in stone. The sport has failed to settle on a permanent home in the country, with no less than nine different circuits since the first championship race to the US in 1959.

Europeans are quick to criticise US motorsports and it is pretty much vica-versa on the other side of the pond. Formula One has hardly left with its head held high either. The lowest point of the sport’s most recent return to the States was 2005 United, where only six cars started due to tire issues. That been said, it wasn’t the first race in the US that ended with beer cans on the track!

Even as more details have been released about the USF1 project, it just sounded like a fantasy. They intend to set up in North Carolina, right in the heart of Nascar country. I question whether a Formula One team can work comfortably out of North America. Sure, there will be skilled people in the area, but not for the sport of Formula One.

That is why so many teams have set up shop in the United Kingdom. Teams have a readily supply of skilled labour on hand for whatever task is needed. Currently, only four of the eleven teams are based outside of the UK. Even when Toyota launched their F1 project, many questioned their decision to set up shop in Cologne.

Another component mentioned for the team is a desire for an all-American line-up. Much like the choice of base location, it is a head scratcher. US racers have a long history of failure in the sport. Mario Andretti stands as the only US national champion in Formula One’s history – and he was born in Italy. Since then, the sport has being littered with failed attempts. The most recent of these was Mario’s son, Michael, in 1993 and Scott Speed in 2006-07. Both left their respective teams before the end of their final seasons.

Immediately, Danica Patrick was linked with a seat. When I look at that possibility, I just think ‘PR stunt’. Danica is a good racer, but she has yet to firmly establish herself as a contender in the Indy Racing League. When you see that past US single-seater champions have struggled in Formula One, you have to question what hope Danica could have. I could be wrong, but, I’m sure I am not the only one thinking that.

A more respectable choice would be AJ Allmendinger. Should ‘Dinger not find himself a full season sponsorship to run in Nascar this year, an option to return to single-seaters might suit him. Although, given his growing potential in the stock car series, I can’t imagine him staying jobless for long. Unlike Franchitti, Villeneuve and Carpentier, Allmendinger seems settled for the long haul in Nascar.

I expect Marco Andretti, grand-son of ex-champion Mario, to be heavily linked in the coming months. Unlike Allmendinger and Patrick, Marco has tested a Formula One car and showed potential. As part of a racing dynasty, he would be the perfect face to lead the team as they attempt to conquer Formula One. He is taking part in A1 GP this year in an attempt to improve his road racing talents for the upcoming IRL season.

There is an air of confidence around not only the USF1 project leaders, but from elements of the F1 paddock that this could work. I will remain sceptical until we learn more. A soft drink tastes great while the fizz is still in it, but it doesn’t take long before it goes flat.

2009 Nascar Season Preview

A new year, but the aim is still the same – stop Jimmie Johnson. Nascar kicks off the new season with the Daytona 500 on Sunday evening. It starts off a gruelling 36 race schedule that criss-crosses America as they determine who will be the Sprint Cup Champion.


#00 – David Reutimann.
Reutimaan returns to his familiar #00 which he used during the 2007 and start of 2008 season. Towards the end of last year, the Michael Waltrip Racing driver steadily improved. I expect him to continue leading the line for his young organisation. Sponsorship could be an issue, according to some reports.

#1 – Martin Truex Jr.
Truex leads the new Earnhardt-Ganassi line-up, although his long term future at the team will remain in question with his contract up at the end of this year. After making the Chase in 07, there was little to shout about for Truex in 2008. If the new Earnhardt Ganassi team fails to spark, I would expect Truex to seek pastures new.

#2 – Kurt Busch
Like Truex, the elder Busch brother failed to make the Chase last year. With a year that starting with promise for the Penske team, it quickly evaporated into a tough slug for the team. Busch visited victory lane once, in a rain-shortened race. With his brother on the rise, Kurt needs to remind everyone that he was once a Nascar champion.

#5 – Mark Martin
The veteran returns for one final tour (again) with a full time rid in a Hendricks car. He is the popular choice for a run at the title. Personally, I would love to see him do it. I’ve been a Martin fan since I first started watching Nascar years ago. While it would be a fairytale, I don’t seem doing it. Expect him to be in the Chase though.

#6 – David Ragan
The man who won the ‘Most Improved Driver of the Year’ in the first annual Phillies here on The Chequered Flag, big things are expected of Ragan in 2009. A first one is a must, along with a Chase berth. The pressure is on the youngster. All the eyes are on him, even within his team. Roush has to cut one of their cars at the end of the year to comply with the four cars per team rule. Ragan and McMurray are the ones thought to be on the chopping board.

#7 – Robby Gordon
One of the few remaining full-time single car teams, I expect another year of struggle for Gordon. 2008 was a poor year and was not helped by issues with then technical partner GEM. A messy divorce was on the cards, leaving Gordon freelance. There is only so far one can go running solo. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gordon has finally reached the limit.

#07 – Casey Mears
Nascar’s journeyman finds himself yet again in a new car. There can be little excuse for Mears if he fails to light up in the #07. Clint Bowyer has taken this crew to the Chase two years in a row. After failing at Hendricks, he will be looking at Kyle Busch as an example of what can happen if you leave the best team.

#8 – Aric Almirola
The youngster who ran the part-time schedule with Mark Martin last year takes full control of it this year. A promising youngster is still likely to be thrown in at the deep end, with a team that is still trying to find its feet. A lot of confusion has been made over sponsorship for the #8 and whether it would have enough for the full year.

#9 – Kasey Kahne
It looked at once stage that Kahne could be a legitimate threat for the Chasse in the middle of the season. A spectacular nose dive saw him miss the cut and disappear off the radar. He leads the re-organised Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) from the ashes of GEM and Petty Enterprises. With the number of Chase-potential drivers in the field, he could find himself on the outside looking in yet again.

#11 – Denny Hamlin
The youthful Hamlin is now the veteran within the Joe Gibbs stable. He needs to reverse the slide his career appears to be on. Jumping onto the scene with a bang, it is been nothing but fizzle lately from him.

#12 – David Stremme
Stremme returns after a year out, replacing Ryan Newman. After giving way to Dario Franchitti in the #40 last year, Stremme subbed for the injured Scot last year. Looking at how he handled the car, you had to wonder why the switch was done in the first place. A year in the Nationwide series has kept his skills honed.

#14 – Tony Stewart
A venture into the unknown with ‘Smoke’, as he takes command of his own team. Up’s and down’s are expected, but if he can make the Chase, it will likely feel like a championship for him.

#16 – Greg Biffle
The Biff came from nowhere to make a run for the title late last year. Now he just needs to build on it. Too many times, a good year is followed by a bad year for Biffle. It was for that reason I had lumped him with Ragan and McMurray in regards to been the odd one out at Roush. If he can pull off what he did last year, his seat will be well cemented.

#17 – Matt Kenseth
The former champion endured a winless year, which was altogether too quiet, even by his standards. I do wonder if Kenseth has it in him for another championship. Honestly, I didn’t see anything that would convince me to the contrary last year.

#18 – Kyle Busch
After crashing and burning in the Chase, Wild Thing is out for blood. If lessons are learned for why the team dropped off so much late last year, there could be no stopping him.

#19 – Elliott Sadler
It will be interesting to see how this team works this year. The messy situation regarding his contract is likely to lead to some frictions within the team. Whether that brings out the best, or worse, only time will tell.

#20 – Joey Logano
‘Sliced Bread’ will be staring at the mountain he has to climb with his first full season. Expectation is at fever pitch for the youngster. He takes over from Tony Stewart, meaning he has the best team possibly built around him to help adjust. A victory isn’t out of the question, if he can live up the hype.

#21 – Bill Elliott
Awesome Bill will remain with Woods Brothers for select outings this year. Like a fine wine, he continues to put the car on the field without the need to fall back on a champions provisional.

#24 – Jeff Gordon
A winless year has seen alarm bells ringing within the media. Gordon may be down, but he certainly isn’t out. I expect him to break that duck this year. A driver of his talent just doesn’t go bad overnight.

#26 – Jamie McMurray
A strong end to the season has left Roush in a tight spot with trying to make five go into four. If McMurray can be as consistent as he was fast, he could be a fly in the ointment when it comes to finalising those Chase berths.

#28 – Travis Kvapil
Travis did an awesome job of keeping a car that ran a good chunk of the year without sponsorship. Again he finds himself in the same boat. Added pressure comes with his points being transferred, meaning he has to qualify on speed for the first five races.

#29 – Kevin Harvick
Another driver who endured a winless year, he started this year in the best possible way with winning the Bud Shootout. Like Kenseth and Gordon, he has a point to prove.

#31 – Jeff Burton
A new sponsor on the hood of the #31, but expect more of the same. Burton should solidly qualify for the Chase, but I feel that he doesn’t really have the killer instinct to actually win it.

#33 – Clint Bowyer
Bowyer moves to the new RCR team in an attempt to keep sponsors happy. Good news for Clint is that he doesn’t need to worry about qualifying on speed, after the team received points from the #22. Biggest question for Bowyer will be can he make the Chase with a new crew,,

#39 – Ryan Newman
The second of the new Stewart-Hass cars, Newman is a lock for the first five. With the quality of the Chase field, I don’t see him making it.

#42 – Juan Montoya
The talent is there, but is the machinery? I think Montoya has a lot to prove, but I don’t think he can do that with his current team. He may need to consider moving if he is realise his potential.

43 – Reed Sorenson
The youngster has big feet to fill in the famous 43. He hasn’t shown much in the way of race craft that screams we are going to see something difference. Perhaps the guidance of the great Richard Petty can steer him right.

44 – AJ Allmendinger
After the fiasco over which car he would drive, Allmendinger ended up with the short stick. He has guaranteed for the first eight races, after which the team needs sponsors. It would be a waste of talent to see him not on track.

47 – Marcos Ambrose
The likable Aussie starts his first full season in the JTG Daugherty organisation. The team is running out of Michael Waltrip’s factory and is essentially, an unofficial third team there. Needs to be consistent on the ovals before he can really romp at the road courses.

48 – Jimmie Johnson
Four-peat? That is what everyone is thinking and why not? The best team is hard to bet against. I’m looking forward to Johnson vs Edwards vs Busch this year.

55 – Michael Waltrip
Team owner Waltrip says that he will quit if he endures a bad season this year. Despite keeping the car solidly within the top-35 during last year, I feel that I don’t think he can get much higher than that. Indeed, it might be a good time to move over and let someone else take over the reins.

77 – Sam Hornish Jr.
A second season beckons for the former Indycar racer. Last year, Hornish showed flashes of potential in his race craft. Unfortunately, it wasn’t consistent enough. He will have a lock in for the first five races, ever important for a driver that could easily struggle as he would shine on any given weekend.

82 – Scott Speed
The years second rookie confirmed for a full-time seat, Speed wasn’t really impressive when he replaced Allmendinger late last year. So much so that the team had to swap Speed and Vickers on the final race to ensure the car would make the top-35. Importantly for the former F1 driver is that he has cut his teeth on a few races. With the lack of testing time this year, such experience is all the more valuable.

83 – Brian Vickers
Like Kasey Kahne, at one point it looked like he would make a strong run for the Chase. Like Kahne, he also suffered a drop in form that saw him drop from contention. A Chase berth and a win are on the cards, but it will be tough. Credit to the team for the amazing turnaround from 2007 to 2008. If they can continue in that vein, who knows what might be possible for the Red Bull outfit.

88 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt Nation expects. A fuel mileage and a non-championship win was hardly what they expected. But he did have more victories than team-mates Gordon and Mears. This year is definitely a put up or shut up year for him. He has had a year within the team. Now it is time to show that there is more to him than being the son of Dale Earnhardt.

96 – Bobby Labonte
Former champion Labone will drive the Hall of Fame/Yates car, with a lock for the first five races do the job that Kvapil and Gilliand did last year in their respective rides. A driver of his calibur should keep the team afloat in the top-35

98 – Paul Menard
In a time where sponsorship is hard to come by, Menard is a hit commodity. Not the greatest driver in the world but when the family business has their name on the hood, it is an easy choice to find him a ride. Like Labonte, he finds himself with a lock for the first five because of the work done by the ’08 Yates drivers.

99 – Carl Edwards
Edwards is my tip for the title this year. Underneath that charming smile is a man with a racers instinct. He isn’t afraid to take risks and when the chips are down, he doesn’t have any qualms about driving the stones off his car. The expected three-way battle with Johnson and Busch should make for good watching.

Time to go racing!

The wait is nearly over. The time for racing is near!

This weekend, gentlemen will start their engines for the pre-season Daytona races that will sort out those who make it for the 'Great American Race'.

Despite the season only finishing in November, it feels a lot longer than a few months since we saw the cars in action. This weekends event will be preceded by the big race next weekend!

I will be doing a pre-season preview of the upcoming season over the coming days. I will be running down on them by team-by-team, from top to bottom!

Movers, Mergers and Turf-outs

The turn of the New Year is often an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start anew. I’m sure many in the motorsport world were looking for a change in fortune, given the current economic conditions.

Unfortunately, we have seen more of what happened in the tail end of last year. In MotoGP, Kawasaki is on the verge of pulling factory support from the series. While no official word from the Japanese firm has been forthcoming, it seems to be nothing more than forgone conclusion given the way people are talking about it.

Speaking about MotoGP, something that completely escaped my radar was that Eurosport has lost its coverage of the series to the BBC. While I am in full support in a changing of the guard on the F1 front, the decision to take it away from Eurosport is baffling. You would be hard pushed to find a better coverage for the sport. Hopefully the BBC recognizes that, as they did with the talents of Martin Brundle, and sign up Toby Moody and Juilan Ryder to front their coverage.

Across the pond, the news hasn’t been much better for Nascar. Petty Enterprises are currently in merger talks with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. While I am not as well versed in the historical elements of Nascar as I would like, it isn’t too hard to see the symbolic and historical significance of the Petty team.

The family venture is to Nascar what Ferrari is to Formula One, in my opinion. I’m sure many thought that despite falling on hard times as of late, they would still survive. The team has a known brand that is sellable to sponsors. An impending merger will be a reminder that nobody is safe in today’s world.

Staying with GEM, the team is also going to have to battle an impending lawsuit regarding Elliot Sadler. Despite signing a new deal earlier in the year, Sadler has been turfed out in favour of AJ Allmendinger. After impressing in GEM’s third card towards the end of the season, it isn’t a surprise to see him in a full time ride.

Sadler is claiming breach of contract, having said to have received the news from a sponsor. How this all plays out is anyone’s guess. If the merger with Petty plays out as expected, the removal of Sadler asks a question of how many cars GEM plan to run this year. Currently the team run the #9, #10 and #19 – add to this the expected arrival of the #43. Either they plan to only run three cars or have someone else lined up for the fourth seat.

The Futures Bright?

Last Friday, the FIA and FOTA came to an agreement on cost-cutting measures. It’s funny how when staring down the barrel of a gun can suddenly turns people who would draw this out till we are dust and bones into agreeable parties.

As for the changes, honestly, the jury is out for me.

In-season testing has been banned, with the sport taking a page out of Nascar’s book. The American series confirmed their own testing ban a few weeks ago in an effort to kerb costs. On the bright side, it should ensure that there will be plenty more action on a Friday for spectators to watch, given this will be their own test time.

On the flip side, I am concerned. What happens if one team gets a significant jump on the others? It has happened in the past and the only way they were reeled back in was via working hard on the testing front. That option is now eliminated. Will the sport resort to weight ballast like touring cars if this sort of situation crops up?

The engine unit must now last an additional race, meaning that we will see the same motor used for three races. Each driver has eight engines for the season, with four additional ones for testing. No mention of what happens if someone actually goes over that limit. Do they sit out the rest of the season? Granted, reliability has been quite good in recent years, but you have to ask.

For 2010, refuelling will be banned. Now this, I have some major concern with. Over the past decade, fuel loads have played an important part in grand prix racing. If your opponent is faster than you on track, you short-fill and hope you can pump in those fast laps to build sufficient gap. Tail-enders depend on heavy loads to try to bring them into play late in the race.

All this is now eliminated. Providing a driver doesn’t have an issue, there is no need to worry about someone throwing an exciting spanner into the works now. Does this mean we should know the results after the first few laps of the race?

With no fuel and longer equipment lives to watch out for, I am worried that the sport will become one of who can take care of their equipment best – not who is the fastest of them all.

The KERS system will not be mandatory for next year, although many will probably run with it. McLaren and Ferrari had expressed fears about the cost of it, but given that it will be mandatory for 2010, I’d expect everyone to make an effort to bolt it on. Whatever about costs, the end of the day one doesn’t want to be lagging behind in the development of it.

The standard engine issue remains an option, if only to have one cheaply available to the independent teams. This is a great way to make both sides happy. Standardised gearboxes and the sharing of information has also been talked about for 2010.

As for the proposed medal system, that is reportedly going to be put to the public, where I personally hope it gets shot down. It is a gimmick idea we just don’t need for the sport.

All this, on top of the technical changes for the coming season. It is a lot to take in.

The Phillies: Nascar Results

A little late due to the coverage of the Race of Champions, here are the 'Phillies' for the Nascar 2008 season.

For details on each of the awards, see the Award Categories.

Driver of the Year:
Winner: Carl Edwards
The Missouri native was consistently strong throughout the year. He took a season high nine victories in the #99 Ford Fusion and ran Jimmie Johnson to the final race. Despite the insurmountable odds against him, he never gave up - a testament to his never say never attitude.
He backed up his second place in the Sprint Cup with the runners-up spot in the Nationwide series. In 2009, he will be gunning for the double.

Most Improved Driver of the Year:
Winner: David Ragan
A simple choice really. In the hands of Ragan, the #6 evoked memories of when Mark Martin was piloting the car. Described as a 'dart without feathers' by Tony Stewart, even the two-time champion had changed his tune by the end of 2008.

Finished best of the rest outside of the Chase, the only thing missing from Ragan's CV is a victory. Expect him to be a Chase contender next year.

Rookie of the Year:
Winner: Vacant
Lets be honest, none of the rookies showered themselves in glory in 2008. The highest placed in the standings was Ragan Smith, who finished in 34th in the standings. The open-wheel invasion failed to establish a beachhead and quickly found itself in retreat.


Flop of the Year:
Winner: The Open-Wheel Invasion
At the start of the year, many traditionalists were worried that Nascar was going to see an influx of open-wheel drivers coming into stock car, thus depriving potential talent from breaking through.
However, as the year went on - they dropped like flies. Villeneuve never returned after an attempt to qualify for Daytona. Franchitti was out after half way through the year and Carpentier soon followed once GEM had signed up Sorenson for 2008. That left Sam Hornish Jr the last man standing.

Underrated Driver of the Year:
Winner: AJ Allmendinger
AJ would definitely get an honorary mention for 'Most Improved' of the year. A difficult start to the year saw him replaced with Mike Skinner as Red Bull evaluated the program. When AJ returned, he was a different man.
Growing from strength to strength, it was a major surprise to see him ousted at Red Bull. He continued to garner creditability when he took over the #10 ride. Allmendinger is still without a ride for 2009. It would be a crying shame for him not to be involved.

Team of the Year:
Winner: #48
The combination of Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus has been the team to beat over the last two years and this year was no different. When the Chase came along, they were the best prepared. On occasions where things could easily have gone wrong, both driver and crew chief worked to make the best out of what could easily be a bad situation.


Most Improved Team of the Year:
Winner: #18
In the hands of JJ Yeley, the former championship winning team was mired well back in the standings in 2007, never cracking the top-20. The arrival of Kyle Busch and Toyota transformed the team back to winning ways. A poor Chase puts a slight damper on an otherwise fantastic season for the team.


Race of the Year:
Winner: Aarons 499, Talladega
The first race at the Superspeedway was edge of the seat stuff from start to finish. Who needed two-wide racing when these guys can run three-wide for the majority of the race. It was fantastic stuff and a perfect example of what the competition in Nascar can offer.


Surprise of the Year:
Winner: Mark Martin signing up for one more shot
The veteran will return in 2009 for one final shot at the elusive title that has eluded him until now. Despite running a part-time schedule over the past two years, the competitiveness level has never died from the veteran.
If he continues as such in 2009, he should easily make the Chase. With Hendrick's machinery under him, it is more than possible that Martin will write his own fairytale.

Overtaking Move of the Year:
Winner: Carl Edwards versus Jimmie Johnson at Kansas
Proof that second is never good enough for a racer. Edwards launched a daring slingshot to try to get passed Johnson. The #99 barrelled past, slapped the wall and just lost the momentum, allowing Johnson to slip past by. One can only applaud Edwards desire to win.

Controversy of the Year:
Winner: Goodyear Tires
On too many occasions, tire blow-outs played too much a part in the racing. The lowest point for the issue was at Indy, where the race was reduced to short sprints between yellow flags to get everyone home safe.

Money makes the world go round

With all the talk about Sato and Bourdais trying to scrounge up funds to get a seat at Toro Rosso, it definitely reinforces the idea that heads clashed at the team over driver policy.

Back in May, the former driver spoke out about his desire not to employ chequebook drivers in the team. Granted, the economic climate has changed since, but given the amount of talk about the prospects having to bring money to the table, one can't help but wonder. (see: Chequebook Drivers? No Thanks!)

McLaren have joined Ferrari in calling for a postponement of the KERS system because of the cost of the system. The top-two could also have an ulterior motive for it, given that both would have had to delay work on their 2009 whilst others got the train early.

Of course, many in forums alluded to such when Ferrari made the call with the all too familiar Ferrari 'whinging'. I wonder how these same people will perceive McLaren's stance on it. I can see this issue splitting into two camps. I don't see those who already have a system in place willing to play ball.

Speaking of McLaren, team principal Ron Dennis has commented about Honda and it's Earth Dream concept, more or less saying what I have for two years now. So it has taken two years for people to notice this. And for some reason I don't have any official job in the sport.

Ending on a happy note, major props to Nascar's Jeff Gordon, who said he is willing to take a pay cut for the betterment of his team. In tough times, cuts need to be made. The biggest problem is, it is often hard to take back what is already given. People in all sectors are bitching and moaning about not wanting to even freeze their salaries until the skies clear.

With all this selfishness , Gordon's gesture is one I hope everyone, not just in the sports world, will take not of. Whether it be motorsport, football or any other sport - the money handed out has risen to a ridiculous level.

Three-ific

Jimmie Johnson wrote his name into the history books on Sunday, notching up a hat-trick of titles.

The odds were heavily in favour of the California native at Homestead, but credit to Carl Edwards for making a race of it. Edwards knew it was mission impossible. But that didn’t stop him giving his be-all and end-all. He did everything he could, leading the most laps and securing victory. All he needed was for Johnson to have bad luck.

None came, but that was hardly a surprise.

Arguments rage in the Nascar community about where Johnson’s achievements stand in the sports history. Some have pointed to Johnson taking advantage of the Chase format to collect titles that otherwise he may not have earned.

It is a fair point. For those interested, Edwards would have taken the title by 16 points under the pre-Chase format. But, this is the era of the Chase. Looking back at how points would look under the old system is pointless nostalgia. Not every season of the Chase can be brilliant, like the first year of the concept.

Every driver starts the year knowing what they have to do to be champion. While Johnson didn’t have a stellar regular season compared to the likes of Edwards or Kyle Busch, he did the job when it mattered. Everyone else is afforded the same opportunity as the #48 team. It is up to them to take it.

Honestly, I hate when people start comparing achievements from different eras. Keyword here is different. When Cale Yarborough achieved his three-peat, it was a different time, different cars, and different competition – different. It reminds me back to when Schumacher achieved his fifth F1 title and the comparisons with Fangio. You can’t just look plainly at the statistics and compare one person’s title rack up to another.

His achievements should be respected on merit. Like I said above, every single one of the drivers started the season knowing what they had to do to win the title. At the end of the season, Johnson achieved those goals. Chase or no Chase, that is what should really be remembered.

A Bad Decision

It may be more than a formality that Jimmie Johnson will make history this weekend at Homestead. A result better than 36th position on Sunday will see him crowned champion for the third time in a row. But up and down the standings, a number of smaller battles will be fought out. Most enticing of which, will be the battle to remain in the top-35 points.

A few months ago, Red Bull looked like they would easily have both cars in the top-35 going into the 2009. Given how difficult their début season was, an amazing accomplishment for the energy drinks giant. Then they decided to drop AJ Allmendinger.

According to media sources, he was offered only a one year extension to say, you can’t fault AJ for wanting to look for more, even in this difficult economy environment. A driver at his age, he needs stability. A one year deal would see him stuck in the same situation this time next year.

Regardless of whether he took the deal or not, Scott Speed was always going to be in the frame. Maybe signing a one year deal would only delay the inevitable for Allmendinger. Former F1 driver Speed, has spent the year in the ARCA series and raced a number of events in the Truck series, finding success in both.

Still, you can’t help but feel Red Bull are rushing him. You would think they would have learned from Allmendinger’s experience. Thrust straight into a debut team, it was always going to be an uphill climb for him. Even experienced team mate Vickers struggled to make races last year.

The start of year was also a struggle for the likable Californian. After a failure to qualify in the opening races, he was replaced by Mike Skinner, as Red Bull revaluated the program. When he returned at Talladega, it was a different AJ behind the wheel. From there on out, his stock rose by the race. By the time the Nascar circuit left Watkins Glen, he had gotten the #84 within the top-35.

Despite this, Red Bull decided to speed up their plans for 2009. AJ finished his time with Red Bull with a career best 9th at Kansas. He was replaced again by Skinner, before Scott Speed took over. The #84 went from a car capable of running top-20, to scrapping near the back of the pack. With a race to go, the team slid outside the top-35.

As a result, the team has switched their drivers, placing Vickers in the #84 in the hope he can get the car back into the coveted spot. Teams within the top-35 are guaranteed a starting spot in the first five races of 2009, including the showpiece event, the Daytona 500. I’m not much of a fan of the move, but business and racing go hand in hand together in this day and age.

It would be a sore pill to swallow of Marcus Ambrose and the JTG Daugherty Racing team, whom will take over the control of the #47 (formerly the #00) at the end of the year. They currently occupy the 35th position after some sterling performances by the Aussie.

As for Allmendinger, he continues to prove why he was one of the most improved drivers of the year. Finishing out the year driving the #10 for Gillett Evernham, he has consistently been the most competitive driver at the team. Not bad, given that he is not only new to the team, but also adjusting from driving a Toyota all year.

It would be a crying shame for Allmendinger to be on the sidelines next year. A driver of his talent is worthy of any seat.

Top-35 Battle:
33rd - Haas CNC Racing - #66 - 2765pts
34th - Robby Gordon Motorsports - #7 - 2685pts
35th - Michael Waltrip Racing - #47 - 2655pts
36th - Team Red Bull - #84 - 2638pts
37th - Penske Racing - #77 - 2554pts
38th - Gillett Evernham Motorsports - #10 - 2495pts

Eco-Warrior

In a daring game of Texas Hold ‘Em with his fuel gauge, Carl Edwards defied the odds and ran sixty-nine laps on his final tank of fuel on his way to victory lane.

Edwards was an unstoppable force at a track where Roush Fenway cars have won six times previously. After making his way through the field, he set a blistering pace that at one point, with the aid of a limited number of yellow flags, saw only a dozen cars on the lead lap.

The #99 found himself out of position late on when a number of cars took only two ties. But, Edwards surprised everyone with a fuel mileage run to victory lane. He completed the clean sweep with five additional bonus points for leading a lap and for most laps lead.

Edwards was followed home once again by a Hendricks Chevy, but this time it was Jeff Gordon, who also played the fuel game. Title rival Jimmie Johnson suffered another difficult start to the day and again found himself one lap down. Unlike last week at Atlanta, the #48 struggled to make the same rebound. The searing pace of Edwards kept him from the coveted Lucky Dog position. In the end, Johnson came home in 15th position.

The result moves Edwards to within 106 points with only two races remaining in the Chase. Greg Biffle remains within striking distance, only 143 back after a strong run to fifth. It was a great day for Roush Fenway as a whole. All five cars spent practically the entire day in the top-15.

With two to go, that foregone conclusion that many considered to be Johnson’s three-peat doesn’t seem so certain. There is still allot of work to do for Cousin Carl to haul the #48 in, but perhaps the last few weeks are the springboard Edwards needs to dethrone Johnson.

Mister Consistency Takes Victory

October 12th is turning out to be a motorsport epic morning. Nascar, live from Charlotte was my first stop of the night. The night race in the US started at 1am Irish time.

It’s the first time I’ve pulled an all nighter for Nascar. Usually I’ve taped them, because staying up without sleep for a race, it’s quiet difficult. It goes to show how things have changed, that I‘m happy to stay up till five am.

Charlotte didn’t disappoint either. The five hundred mile race had its thrills and spills before Jeff Burton ignited his title challenge with victory. The #31, who is a model for consistency, took fuel only on his final stop to maintain track position. The clear track was all important at Charlotte. On multiple times during the race, he who was out front, legged it.

Jimmie Johnson came home in sixth position after running up front all day. The #48 faded in the latter stages, but finished in front of Biffle. Carl Edwards had a torrid day. A pit under green to change tires due to a vibration but him a lap down before his car lost power. By the time the crew got the #99 restarted, he was 16 laps down.

The Coke 600 winner, Kasey Kahne finished second with Kurt Busch coming home in third. Kyle Busch put his nightmare start to the Chase behind him with fourth. The younger Busch bounced back from a lap down due to a drive through penalty is finally showing the sort of competitiveness that we saw for the first 26 races.

It was a day of what might of been for many, with the likes of Gordon, Stewart, Ragan, Vickers all running close to the front at some stage. All ended up running into difficulties, with Stewart and Ragan picking up pit lane speeding penalties. Gordon and Vickers both smacked the wall, damaging their cars. Recent performances by Vickers and Ragan show that both are due for a trip to victory lane sooner rather than later.

With his victory, Burton now moves into second spot. The question to be asked is – can he sustain a championship challenge. Consistency usually isn’t a problem for the #31, but he needs to raise his game to beat a driver of Johnson’s calibre.

Pictures from Indy

Huzzah!

Okay, this is totally overdue, but I finally got my Brickyard pictures I promised and the special reports from July! To make a long story short, I thought they were lost from where they were stored and only recently managed to recover them. There are a few that didn't come through, but I got 98% of the pictures back - which is the important thing. Better than none at all!

So enjoy!

The pre-race parade done by big-ass US trucks for each driver. Think of the carbon emissions!


The calm before the storm at Casy Mears pit stall.


Driver Parade - Sam Hornish Junior


Driver Parade - Michael Waltrip


Driver Parade - Bobby Labonte


Driver Parade - Jeff Burton


Driver Parade - Denny Hamlin


Driver Parade - Kyle Busch


Driver Parade - Kevin Harvick


Driver Parade - Dale Earnhardt Junior


Driver Parade - Tony Stewart


Driver Parade - Carl Edwards


Driver Parade - Jeff Gordon


Driver Parade - Mark Martin


The beasts await to be let off the leash


Tony Stewart, Juan Montoya, David Ragan & Patrick Carpentier


Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne & Jeff Gordon


Marcos Ambrose, Martin Truex Junior, AJ Allmendinger & Bobby Labonte


Revving Up For The Start


Paul Menard makes his way to the pits with damage


Terry Labonte on pit road for an early stop under yellow


Michael Waltrip after his tangle on track, limps back to the pits


Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin & Carl Edwards lead the way to the pits


Jamie McMurray & Reed Sorenson


Casey Mears, Travis Kvapil and Terry Labonte


Matt Kenseth after his tyre let go - he was a little too fast for my camera!


A familiar sight at Indy - everyone to pit road


Busy Times


The pit crews definitely earned their wage on the day

It's Talladega

Those were the words most commonly said in the paddock through the race. It was nothing short of a nail biting, pulsating afternoon of racing that had me on the edge of my seat. 68 lead changes amongst 28 drivers, a record - and that was only the officially timed ones at the line.

Tony Stewart snapped a winless streak stretching back to Watkins Glen last season, after Nascar cancelled out Regan Smiths below the yellow line move. It was an unfortunate end to a great race that caused some confusion. As far as I was concerned, racing below the yellow line is a no-no for all the race, so why should the last lap be any different.

During the first half of the race, it looked like there could have been another Indy on our hands. A succession of tire blows out, accumulating in the first ‘Big One’ of the afternoon, had me thinking were we going to see another set of sprints coupled with competition yellows. Whether the issues were with the tires themselves, debris, rubbing or high pressures, they at least disappeared into the second half of the race to let them run for it.

The day saw a mix of strategy, with some of the Chasers sticking to the back to avoid any entanglements. It cost Jimmie Johnson early. The reigning champion lost the draft and fell a lap down. Johnson regained his lap later on via the Lucky Dog. Biffle and Edwards adopted a similar strategy, the latter even employing a unique pit stop strategy to keep himself out of trouble.

When the time to come forward came, it all went sour for the Roush cars. Edwards tipped into the back of Biffle, causing the catalyst for the second ‘Big One’ of the afternoon. Unlike Big One #1, which the Chasers avoided, #2 saw more than half the Chase field receive damage.

Watching Talladega is always a treat. Forget two wide, we had three wide racing for the majority of the race. Four and five when guys felt gutsy. The day saw a number of young guns, like Ragan, Smith, Almirola giving solid drives on the day. The track easily lived up to its tag as the wildcard in the Chase.

That, was pure racing enjoyment.

Common Sense Please!

Ah Luca, your timing is impeccable. Like last year, when F1 was trying to remove the afterthoughts of spy-gate, you put your foot in it, bringing it up for no reason. Once more, your shoddy timing has only helped galvanize the distain for Ferrari that the likes of ITV fed in its infancy.

Luca di Montezemolo came out and said that the Singapore race was humiliating for Formula One. Of course, people only see what they want to see and have been quick to link it to simply because Ferrari had an abysmal race. Seriously, Luca, if you are going to complain about the state of things, don’t do it after a disaster for your own team.

Looking past the Ferrari aspect, he is right. If it wasn’t for the safety car period, it was looking to be nothing short of a snore-bore race, and not the first this year. The most interesting races this year have come via wet weather or safety car been called into action. So is the situation humiliating for Formula One? I say yes.

Formula One is quickly becoming a boring sport. Take out the external factors and there hasn’t been any memorable races, with most decided by the time the first pit-stop comes around. There is nothing there to keep fans on tenterhooks from start to finish, unless you are a diehard fan.

I’ve watched Formula One since 1994. Sitting down on Sunday to watch a race is as close to religion as I figure I’ll ever get. Whether it meant waking up in the dead of the night or hurrying home early from Dublin after a night of drinking for lunch time, I’d do it. Watching it live was the way to go. Even after my favourite driver, Michael Schumacher retired, I moved on with the sport, finding new people to follow. This is the first year I’ve really questioned why I should bother to keep watching.

Having the ability to watch Nascar this year has opened my eyes more to it. Of course, people will slander Nascar, claiming it isn’t good racing and what skills do you need to go around in circles. Unfortunately, the world is full of ignorance and motorsport is no different. At least when I watch a Nascar race, as I commented in my previous piece, I’m likely to get a good race. I don’t get that with Formula One anymore. We can only hope that the changes next year will inspire better racing.

The sport is in need of a major overhaul, not just in the technical department – or it stands even to lose its diehard fans. Unfortunately, I worry that when people try to point out the failings of the sport, those with no common sense will drone it in favour of shouts for their favourite driver.

Chase Update

After the third race of the Chase, I seriously wonder why I bother with Formula One as much anymore. Nascar, plain and simple is a better spectacle. Of course, like any sport, it is capable of producing a snore-bore, but they are few and far between.

Kansas was no different. The top three in the championship duked it out for victory and we saw the difference from a man who wants to win to one who is glad to settle. With a few laps to go, Carl Edwards could easily of decided to settle for second position. But nope, the #99 chased down leader Johnson and took an overly ambitious move to try to take the victory.



It didn’t work out, but at least he tried, even if he did mash his car up some. The icing on the cake? Edwards goes and has a chat with Johnson afterwards, wondering how much he had cleared him by when he jetted by to ensure he didn’t come close to hitting him. Now there is class.

It would still be easy to question the merits of the Chase format. On one hand, it draws everyone together and spices up the last ten races. Anyone looking at the tables after race 26, would think Bush had it in the bag. Then came the Chase, and Rowdy’s luck evaporated like Joe Gibb’s reliability.

It is pretty shocking to see a championship contender fall from grace so quick. After two events, he was more or less out. His third mechanical issue in the three races put the exclamation point on it. Busch-haters are having a field day with it. I have to feel for him. End of the day, you want the best people competing for it. Like him or not, Busch was the best in the run up to the Chase. Of course, that doesn’t explain nor excuse JGR’s shocking problems. After such a great season, it is a shame that it will end like this.

It’s a case of six of one, half dozen of the other in the Chase. Suddenly, everything is mixed up. Greg Biffle, who had horrid luck during the year when in a race-winning car, has sprung up with the opening pair of victories in the Chase, replacing Busch as the main contender to Johnson and Edwards.

Talladega next weekend, a race I am licking my lips with anticipation for. The first race of the season was an awesome spectacle. I expect no different this time around.

Momentum Building Jimmie

Same result, different race.

One week on from a relative snooze-fest at California that Jimmie Johnson dominated, the rain-delayed Richmond race was a great spectacle, even if the result was the same. After the farcical nature that Formula One is turning into as of late, Nascar is a breath of fresh air for me.

All eyes were on the battle for the final Chase berth. David Ragan looked feisty in his late charge for the final spot. The youngsters chances took a crippling blow when his car went into a half spin, compounded by team-mate Kenseth doing a synchronised spin, clattering his team-mate. His car badly damaged, Ragan fought on admirably and with some great choice strategy kept him in the hunt till late. Eventually the #6 drifted back, ending his Chase dreams. Regardless, it has been a stunning end of the season for Ragan, who according to reports will have UPS sponsorship next year.

Kasey Kahne, Dodge’s only chance of making the Chase also failed in his attempt. Kahne was anonymous all race long. After a bright mid-season, two terrible finishes in the last few races put an end to the fan favourite’s hope.

Going into the Chase, it is the crème de la crème. Three cars are supplied by the top teams – Joe Gibbs, Hendricks, Childress and Roush. Defending champion Johnson is peaking at the right time now and has all the momentum going into Loudon this coming weekend. Busch and Edwards, current favourites need to pull up their socks now that we are getting into the final stages of the season.

It will be interesting to see the mindset at Loudon. How will the championship contenders play it and, more importantly, who of those who have been experimenting the last few weeks have found the right formula.

While I think there are only three choices for a champion, the format of the Chase does allow for the unpredictable. Clint Bowyer was last year’s Cinderella story, winning his first career race at the start of the Chase, eventually finishing third.

Business is just about to pick up.

Johnson Stakes His Claim

Like a stealth assassin, defending champion Jimmie Johnson provided a reminder to Busch and Edwards – don’t count me out yet.

The #48 dominated the race at California, the only time that anyone got close was at restart. It was the sort of display we all expected from Hendricks’s this year. The timing of the run, pivotal, with the ‘Race to the Chase’ starting in a few weeks. His experience of the Chase format, knowing what it takes to win, is something neither Busch nor Edwards can call upon.

The race was hardly one to remember. The most interesting battle was that of the bubble drivers. With this my first season to watch Nascar live in many years, it is my first with the Chase format. From the outset, I thought it was a bit cheesy for motorsport. But now, I have a very different opinion of it.

The battle at the bubble is fascinating. Kasey Kahne and David Ragan are on the outside looking in, but even a minor hiccup for current 12th spot man Bowyer and either could be in. Let’s not forget that eight position man, Tony Stewart, is only 138 points ahead of Ragan. With the reliability and durability of the cars today, an early smash at Richmond could have massive implications for those near the bubble.

It’s an interesting element for a race that is ten away from the season’s chequered flag. At the end other end, we have the battle to stay in the top-35. I still remain somewhat sceptical of this concept, but again it does offer excitement. Sure, most people probably don’t find it interesting, but I do. A.J. Allmendinger, who is one of the most improved drivers of the year, has found himself just inside the top-35, after chasing the coveted position all season. Much like the Chase, there are a number of drivers within a small point’s margin. It will be intriguing to see how this places out comes seasons end.

Elsewhere, Dario Franchitti will be returning to the IRL next season, replacing Dan Weldon in the Ganassi team. Reading this on Autosport, I did drop my jaw at the fact Weldon got the kick. He’s third in the points! Surprised a team like Ganassi couldn’t expand for a car for him, given that IRL is cheaper than Nascar. Perhaps the recent shifts – starting with the closure of the #40 team and have since been followed by the loss of Texaco as a sponsor for the #42 and Reed Sorenson moving to GEM, it is a sign of bigger issues at Ganassi.

It’s a smart move by Franchitti. He showed the odd spark, but nothing that made him stand out and made me think he could last. His injuries hardly helped the situation, with Stremme filling in and running the car up front. It’s never good to have your car do better than you managed with it. A return to the Nationwide saw him show better consistency, but I figure there wasn’t many a team willing to take him on.

Passion Of Racing

Emotion. A budding Rivalry. Side by Side Racing. Overtaking galore. And this isn’t Formula One. Bristol lived up it the hype and produced a fantastic five hundred miles of racing last night.
Carl Edwards notched up back-to-back victories and has closed within thirty Chase points of Kyle Busch. We were treated to a gruelling battle between two of Nascar’s best throughout the race. Between them they lead all but one lap.

It took a classic Bristol ‘bump and run’ move from Edwards to get past Busch, something the championship leader didn’t appreciate it. But this is all a part of the racing. After the race, Busch gave Edwards a few thumps. The race winner responded in kind, spinning the #18 to the delight of the crowd. There is a fantastic rivalry building between the two, exactly what we need going into the Chase.

You have the guy people love to hate in Busch - the brash, confident racer who takes no prisoners, drives for a foreign manufacture (yeh, American's care about that) and tipped Junior out of a race winning situation earlier in the season (a serious faus-paux.) In the other corner you have the poster boy Edwards. A charming, likeable guy with a smile on his face and rarely a bad word to say about anyone.

Post-race, Carl was classy as ever. He’s right, you give as good as you get and still maintains respect. What Busch did after the race was wrong, but after five hundred miles of racing, who wouldn’t get emotional. That’s what we like to see in the racers we follow – a desire to win, that second is not enough.

I know that from my sim-racing experience. Where after a full distance race at Sepang, my brother punted me around at the final corner on the penultimate lap. We shouted, argued and didn’t race for a month after that. Why? Because we care about racing, we are passionate. It’s fantastic to see that Nascar has that.