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September 03, 2007
Johnson adds ten more bonus points for the Chase
By winning the race, Johnson added ten more bonus points for when the Chase starts, which would put him at the top of the standings, one win ahead of Gordon as they stand now.
Most of the Chasers held their positions, with good or decent finishes, only ones to change positions where Kenseth (dropped one spot) and Harvick (dropped two spots). Kenseth's drop was mainly because Edwards did so well, Harvick's drop was more because the car was not good, OK Harvick used stronger words on the radio, but let's just say he wasn't happy with the car at all.
A bright note for Toyota was the seventh place finish by Brian Vickers, while teammate Allmendinger struggled. Another good finish for Vickers.
Earnhardt Jr. gained some points with his fifth place finish, but goes into Richmond 128 points behind Harvick. He'll need a great finish and more bad luck on Harvick's part to make it in.
There was only one multi-car wreck during the race, all the others were for single car incidents or debris. Ricky Rudd injured his shoulder in the multi-car wreck and was treated and released from a local hospital with an apparent separated shoulder.
A big question came to mind with Michael Waltrip's accident. His tire blew and obviously knocked off the oil line which caused a big fire in the car. Waltrip lobbied big time for those roof hatches, because of his size, now I realize it is up to the teams whether they want them or not, but why didn't Waltrip have it on his car? He's the one that lobbied for it, he's the one that praised it when it was implemented, so why didn't he have it on his own car?
Your thoughts?
September 3, 2007 in NASCAR | Permalink
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Hopman, Harvick is good, but he is having a mediocre season.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Sep 4, 2007 8:31:03 PM
Daly,
Agee with you on MW.
Hopman,
He is a mediocre driver (KH)? Well lets see , must be better than 31 others who arent in contention for the Chase.
Posted by: Kurt2 | Sep 4, 2007 11:48:44 AM
On Michael Waltrip, he needs to sell his cars to JGR and just go away from the sport. That he's lasted close to as long as he has in the sport is a gigantic puzzle.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Sep 4, 2007 11:35:38 AM
NC in Hong Kong, true about Johnson last year. Overall, though, the guys who come out of the gate strong are the ones - more often the one, as in singular - who wins the title; there simply is no competitive depth in the Chase. NASCAR thus has failed to get what it ostensibly wanted out of the Chase - multiple contenders for the championship.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Sep 4, 2007 11:34:21 AM
I am not an 8 fan but I am hoping that Harvick blows up, and the 8 makes the chase. What a punk harvick is, I just can't stand that guy. He is a mediocre (insert name here) cup driver, decent Bush driver. Blow your engine 29!!!!!
Posted by: Hoppman | Sep 4, 2007 11:29:10 AM
WaltripFan:
MW should have stepped up and said what happned Jr did and just for that you have to repect JR.
Last nite MW was he usuall aloof self, he is some what funny but like it was posted above for me its the same
fine line between, in my case listening to MW and trusting his crediblity.
Posted by: aggie | Sep 4, 2007 10:23:47 AM
K2
JR is in a cant win situation in life, just like many kids from successful parents in all walks of life.
If he fails or don’t exceed Sr results which will never happen and oh well he is just another rich kid that failed in life is what the media will play on and if he makes it big which he has $$$ wise, oh well they’ll just say that he just rode the ole mans coat tails!!
The only way these guys can win to try and cut their path and identity in life which is easier said than done.
Recently I was looking at some book on SR and in all the pics with SR, Jr was one cute kid and photogenic lil kid, what a life the kid must have had with SR, TE iam not sure about lol….. I think he is more of a charismatic person than he is a great race car driver.
ready for a song ?? about socal??
Posted by: aggie | Sep 4, 2007 10:16:59 AM
"Dale Jr. has drove his heart out in every
race. The blown engines, was no fault of
his."
Angel,
I don't think that statement is entirely true. I've seen him rim-riding turning more rpm than most other drivers this year so his engines are not getting much of a break. The top-of-the-track drivers (except Kenseth, for some reason) tend to blow more engines. And, I think I remember he spun the engine backward in a couple of early-season races.
Posted by: buddynoel | Sep 4, 2007 10:09:57 AM
Ironman,
I thought about the correct verbage on this.
The one whom said that in the garage, is a loyal and good friend of Jrs.He is a owner and a person , even you like.LOL
Not for nothing,you can sit there and say , in the media, tv , scanner he has never blamed the team, engine shop etc?
I do agree with you on one point. He will never get out of Sr's shadow and that isnt right. Nor will he ever bwe SR. in the car.
Next year for him is going to be 'put up or shut up".
Posted by: Kurt2 | Sep 4, 2007 9:40:04 AM
WaltripFan:
"Waltrip is human he can't be at every place at once he had trust in those guys to do the job right and 1 of them stabbed him in the back,so he investigated it and found out it was Hyder and fired him and no one lost respect for him in the garage i mean Jr still talks highly of him,Gordon hangs out with him,every driver likes the guy the only ones that lost respect for him are the pathetic fans who bash him cause they hate Toyota."
Okay no one in the garage has lost respect for him in here? Yes they have, as a competitor. FYI, fine line between talking to someone and trusting there crediblity.
Someone stabbed him in the back? Big crock of crap. MW is a ownwer and a driver, he IS and WAS fully aware of what was going on prior. Hyder took the fall. NASCAR PR and spin control will not let what the "Substance was" out. Hell we all know what it was but know better than to speak of it.
"we have no clue what goes on in the garage or what goes in the car it's funny how all of a sudden anything Waltrip does now that he's with Toyota ."
I wont touch that comment.LOL
Posted by: Kurt2 | Sep 4, 2007 9:35:52 AM
Lol Rich
but dint Mickey forget to take his socks off first??
Posted by: aggie | Sep 4, 2007 9:14:04 AM
Had the thought also that the California safety crew probably stood there looking at him in the car because they remembered him bitching about the crew at Daytona back a few years ago, when he wrecked at the 500 and ended up on his roof--remember the crew trying to get him out? All he did afterwards was criticize, loudly and repeatedly, the effort they made to help him get his ass out of the car. BTW, if you listen to other drivers' radio convo during races, you don't hear a lot of "respect" for him--most of them seem to think he's an idiot on the track.
Posted by: SneakyPete | Sep 4, 2007 7:46:42 AM
LOL Rich!
That whole thing Sunday night with Waltrip might never have happened if the jackass had pitted like he should have for a tire rub. Jeff Hammond is right when he says he doesn't want NASCAR to have to start dictating that, but when you do something that stupid......just shows you how far the guy will go to get on camera, because he sure doesn't get there on performance and never has. If the guy would run his mouth less he might do himself a little good.
Posted by: SneakyPete | Sep 4, 2007 7:37:23 AM
Mikey figured after he crashed his SUV drunk, he didn't need one. Hell, you just climb out through the rear window.
Posted by: Rich | Sep 4, 2007 7:01:33 AM
"Congratulations", Jimmie Johnson on your
win in Cali.
Dale Jr., drive that #8 for a WIN this
week-end. I know, it's a long shot but
it's not impossible, nothing is impossible.
Ricky, get well soon.
Michael, glad you got out of that burning
car and you are o.k.
Posted by: Blueeyes | Sep 4, 2007 1:21:17 AM
Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson on his
win in California.
Glad to see Michael Waltrip get out of that
burning car with no injuries.
Ricky Rudd, hope you recover real soon.
Dale Jr. is doing great right now. I hope
he wins at Richmond this week-end. He has
drove his heart out but the engine problems,
he had no control over. Nothing is im-
possible, so don't count him out yet.NASCAR
penalized him 100 points and that really
hurt him. I think, he will do great at HMS,
and he will win races and championships. I
wish him the best of luck at HMS and I hope
he does great.
Posted by: Race Fan | Sep 4, 2007 1:06:32 AM
Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson on his
win in Cali. Way to go #48.
Hope Ricky Rudd is feeling better and re-
covers soon.
Was happy to see Michael Waltrip get out
of that burning car. Also, I thought some
of those guys should have been helping
Michael get out instead of trying to put
the fire out.
Dale Jr. has drove his heart out in every
race. The blown engines, was no fault of
his. The 100 point penalty really hurt him.
NASCAR does not favor Dale Jr., in any way.
Glad he is going to HMS, he will have a
better chance to win races and hopefully
a championship. Dale Jr. will do just fine
at HMS. His chance for the run at the
championship this year is a long shot but
not impossible.
Posted by: Angel | Sep 4, 2007 12:42:06 AM
Speaking only for myself, I feel sorry for Waltrip. I could care less what make of car he drives. My only probelm with him is that he is always trying to convince everyone he is something that he is not.The only thing he has convinced me of is the fact that he never was a very good driver and he has yet to convince me that he is getting better with age.
Posted by: gil | Sep 4, 2007 12:21:33 AM
Kurt2,
Waltrip is human he can't be at every place at once he had trust in those guys to do the job right and 1 of them stabbed him in the back,so he investigated it and found out it was Hyder and fired him and no one lost respect for him in the garage i mean Jr still talks highly of him,Gordon hangs out with him,every driver likes the guy the only ones that lost respect for him are the pathetic fans who bash him cause they hate Toyota,but last time i checked he was in the top 10 for most popular.
Anyways i didn't say he was doing better than Vickers,which reminds me i forgot to put in my last post "Yes, Vickers is doing better than Waltrip in the races" and i got no problem admitting that,but why should any fans dictate a drivers career? we have no clue what goes on in the garage or what goes in the car it's funny how all of a sudden anything Waltrip does now that he's with Toyota gets held against him,but i only saw 1 comment,no photo,and no bashing of Gordon causing a big wreck that ruined a Toyota driver's chance at a great finish (Reutimann).
In Feb. during the Gatorade 150 Waltrip spun Jr out and later went on to race his way in the Daytona 500,but Thatsracin.com put above the headline article "Waltrip races his way in the Daytona 500" and above it was a photo of him spinning Jr out that had nothing to do with him racing his way in,but of course it had to be posted on here instead of a photo of him crossing the line.
Posted by: Waltripfan55 | Sep 4, 2007 12:04:05 AM
What NASCAR needs on Saturday is for the 2 or 29 to crash or blow up in the first few laps of the race, otherwise there will be no Chase drama at all. I didn't like the decision to expand the Chase to 12 drivers and now for the first time since the inception of the Chase the fall Richmond race will have no Chase bubble drama at all, barring a miracle. I bet now they wish the number was still 10 because there would be some incredible drama. Oh well.
Major thumbs down to the safety crew at California Speedway. Thank goodness Michael Waltrip got out of that car because the safety crews stood around the burning and smoking car seemingly forever staring at the driver's window with their hands on their hips waiting for Waltrip to climb out of the car by himself. How about reaching in and helping him get unhooked and pulled out of the car? That was completely inexcusable.
Posted by: stricklinfan82 | Sep 3, 2007 11:29:42 PM
Ironman,
Not to argue, but that is from has never blamed anyone? OK. More to follow on that. I guess I need to correct the verbage prior to typing it.
Waltripfan:
He has done better than Vickers?Not.
To this "He qualified 16th and was sent home at Dega he proved he can qualify,but the top 35 BS prevented him from racing."
Um happens each week to more cars than the 55 and 88 as well. I.E Riggs this week. Least he got D.R. feel bad for him and Ty over there. Glad this wasnt a Jeremty defense post:)
Sorry but MW lost alot of respect in the garage with the Daytona issue that he "wasnt aware of". Odd he knew the whole situation, the whole time and Hyder had to take the fall.
John,
Yes he said baby steps, meant crawling steps.
Posted by: Kurt2 | Sep 3, 2007 11:18:11 PM
Congrats to the 48 team. I think they were just waiting until the end to show how good they were.
MikeDaly,
in regards to your statement of
"...because it's who comes out of the playoff gates fast who will win the title."
Not sure that is true. Just look at where JJ finished (39th) in the 1st chase race last year. He was still able to rebound after a slow start out of the gate.
JR needs a miracle to make the chase. ASU beat Michigan so you never know what might happen.
Posted by: NC Expat in Hong Kong | Sep 3, 2007 11:08:47 PM
didn't waltrip say something about baby steps not long ago? i bet his sponsors loved that..
Posted by: john | Sep 3, 2007 11:05:58 PM
K2
Jr is still the only driver and you can correct me on this, that flat out said we got caught cheating and it cost us.
Posted by: aggie | Sep 3, 2007 10:55:04 PM
Kurt2,
Great excuse for why Waltrip has made races,but he's been qualifying better than Vickers,Riggs,Blaney,Allmendinger,Reutimann,but yet he's only been making races because of how many cars shown up? He qualified 16th and was sent home at Dega he proved he can qualify,but the top 35 BS prevented him from racing.
If you put Allmendinger and Waltrip in the same amount of races Waltrip has done better in most if not all the races they've been in together.
Sure Waltrip hit a major bump in the beginning of the season,but he's bounced back by making races you can't judge a new team by their first year give them time and Waltrip is better than Allmendinger so saying Waltrip is a mistake is a bunch of crap the only thing that has slowed Waltrip down is qualifying on time,but it looks like he's figured it out.
Posted by: Waltripfan55 | Sep 3, 2007 10:54:18 PM
K2
Aggie, is Larry at your house? LOL
Larry who?? and
NOPE just the dog pissing on a #7MV jersey and wearing his I hate MV collar.
Speaking of great role model stars who is that guy in the NFL with 9 kids all from mothers and he dont want to pay child support?? Bet the house this dude will win the Breeders Cup in 07.
Posted by: aggie | Sep 3, 2007 10:52:43 PM
Kurt2,
For your anonymous source in the garage, I would respond by saying, "Junior's never blamed anyone for anything concerning his career."
And he hasn't, although he had every reason to raise hell about his crew being switched by (I don't even want to say her name), subsequently leading to his shitty year, he suffered through that lousy season in '05 with class.
Posted by: Ironman | Sep 3, 2007 10:49:19 PM
Wow, somebody get larry away from the glue. Jesus Christ! What a retard!
You have to laugh! This is the same guy who says Junior can't talk, but he can't spell to save his life - "... SR would sale his sole to win...."
His typing makes Trent Cherry look like a genius.
Posted by: Ironman | Sep 3, 2007 10:43:09 PM
Waltripfan
Umm MW has made these races as of late by the # of cars showing up, or lack of them.
Sorry once he was let go from DEI, he needed to focus soley as the OWNER of MWR. MW really has never had it, and does need to go. He is a prime example of how people whom are and were popular go POOF with it. DJ cant make a race either. Have no issue with DR. All Toyota has is D.R, B.V, Blaney, and AJ. Mistakes: MW driving, DJ driving, and Jeremy.
Will Gibbs help , yes in time, not out of the box.
MW, doesnt talk about MW.UH okay.
Fan5,
You nailed it on all points with Toyota and Jr. Plus the amount of the contract JGR got for this, anyone would have signed that dotted line. Jr wont make the Chase this year, and Speedweeks and the 500 wont be a true test of him acclimating to HMS.That will come weeks later.
As said by someone in the garage, "he has 1 year to succeed, if he doesnt who can he blame". Vaild point.
Aggie, is Larry at your house? LOL
Dont give the trophy to the 24,20,11 or 48 yet people.
Good to be home and wont miss CA for a long time
Posted by: Kurt2 | Sep 3, 2007 10:32:16 PM
Toyota knew they in trouble back knows when Jan/Feb with MW so like the guy above said iam sure they went shopping right away.
They have never had a HP problem and iam sure with a top level team like JGR they will be contenders in no time, but hey $$$ don’t necessarily bring you wins just look at them in F1 they cant buy a podium finish. They will have 3 top drivers and a top team in NASCAR, compared with the techno and $$$$$$$$ crazzzzzzy F1 team that they have.
Posted by: aggie | Sep 3, 2007 10:30:11 PM
Those two blown motors pretty much put an end to Dale Jr. chances to making the Chase. Despite back to back Top 5 finishes he was just too far behind 12th.
He will do fine at Hendrick in '08, I am not to worried about that.
Posted by: Jon | Sep 3, 2007 10:25:14 PM
First off everyone who is bashing Michael needs to learn the facts about the guy and his team.
He said the team is getting better that didn't mean "ok we failed to qualify 12 straight races now we'll win" he meant they were figuring things out and i say he's right they are getting better because they've made races and did it with no problem when it use to be barely making it he doesn't need to retire from races so keep thinking that guys because your opinions aren't gonna get him out of the car.
Secondly not once did i read "i'm glad Waltrip's ok" no it was "Mikey needs to give it up" EVERY driver wrecks! he has run good when he makes races. It's a new team what do you expect? wins,top 15 in points,and poles? your problems are ya'll got no patience and think a driver should win with no problem at all acting like equipment has nothing to do with the driver's success.
Thirdly, Waltrip doesn't talk about himself as much as ya'll think and today on INC he praised Reutimann.
Lastly, NASCAR won't let teams put the roof hatches in cause it puts more weight on the car and they feel the COT is big enough to get the drivers out that they don't need the roof hatch.
Posted by: Waltripfan55 | Sep 3, 2007 9:59:55 PM
Mike Daly, Why sit around and be 3 or fourth in line being funded by General Motors (HMS, RCR, DEI, JGR) When they can switch brands and be King Daddy in the Toyota camp. GM gave tehm a heads up when Pontiac left, and that left a few of us to struggle with engineering help (PPI, MB2) SO I see it as a win-win for Toyota, it gives them an established organization to develop the program better than our start up teams! I say Welcome aboard!...
Y'all I think Jr will need a miracle to get in the chase...that being #2 and #29 to crashout early(not likely) and the #8 to lead the most laps and win at Richmond, He has had sucess here but remember it's a COT race! If he doesn't "Git-R-Dun" He'll need to put up or shut up at HMS next season...damn THATS pressure!
Posted by: Fan #5 | Sep 3, 2007 9:57:18 PM
Daly:
"... and also an indictment of GM's notorious bias against depth in its program."
Yeah, it terrible isn't it Daly? When you win "only" 24 of the last 37 NASCAR Manufacturers' Championships it just shows no "depth" what-so-ever.
Oh wait... it does. Sorry!
Your point was what again?
Posted by: marc | Sep 3, 2007 9:55:45 PM
John, they're going to Toyota because they will get more engineering help than they are presently getting from Chevy. This is both a sign of Toyota trying to outprice the other brands and also an indictment of GM's notorious bias against depth in its program.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Sep 3, 2007 7:44:58 PM
Johnson's seeding for the playoffs is irrelevent, because it's who comes out of the playoff gates fast who will win the title.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Sep 3, 2007 7:42:21 PM
I really feel like the top three, 48, 24, and 20, are the only real contenders. Naturally I hope it's the 24.
I can't figure out why Gibbs went to the rice burners but it must be $$$$.
And if you know anything about business planning, this just didn't happen over the last couple of months. Joe and J.D. Gibbs have probably been weighing this possibility since the end of last season.
I give them a BIG thumbs down on their decision.
Anybody for chinese food tonight?
Posted by: John | Sep 3, 2007 6:43:44 PM
i never understood why they only had the roof escape hatch for a short time. but it take a crash like that to reopen their eye's
Posted by: gil | Sep 3, 2007 5:33:50 PM
I was reading today that the Japs are setting record profits and are raising their employee contributions for health insurance so they should have the extra cash for roof hatches. Hope Tony gets one.
Posted by: jeff | Sep 3, 2007 5:26:47 PM
LOL Gil!
Posted by: Kathy | Sep 3, 2007 5:10:22 PM
it must be 5 oclock somewhere!
Posted by: gil | Sep 3, 2007 5:07:54 PM
Larry,
Exactly what help has Jr. got that no one else is gotten this year. Obviously you made it to the bottle you were drinking and it is time to sleep it off.
Posted by: Jon | Sep 3, 2007 5:02:52 PM
Larry,
Who are you responding to?
And are you using a translator or something? Your posts aren't making much sense.
Posted by: Kathy | Sep 3, 2007 4:59:34 PM
its bad to see jr not make the chase after all he has had more help than enybody else.nascar boy just not as sorry as his father was you know SR would sale his sole to win.jr just cant drive, he should sale wranger full time, but he would need someone to talk for him he cant do that wright
Posted by: larry | Sep 3, 2007 4:45:53 PM
that means nothing only some thing to talk about.jeff gordon will not win chase and your boy JR will not be in it.just another GM buy off
Posted by: larry | Sep 3, 2007 4:40:19 PM
Gil
I think the guy believes in him self,
if you lie to yourself enough you eventually do
Posted by: aggie | Sep 3, 2007 4:33:29 PM
Kathy none of the 3 rcr cars look like championship cars right now, ok maybe JB with his consistancy.
Right now the 5-2-20-99-48-24 look like the final 6 for the championship. Should be a great final 10 races. the 24-48's extra points or their penalty deductions will aid or kill one of them.
Jr what can you say, the 4-5 dnf plus the -100 points just killed him slowly all year :( brutal slow death for JR.
Posted by: aggie | Sep 3, 2007 4:30:41 PM
Gil,
Dunno what interview with Waltrip you were watching, but when they talked to him after he got out of the car, the last thing he said was he was going to go root on David Reutimann.
Rootiman was running top 10 when Gordon decided to move up and cause the big one. Sure, he said he made a mistake, but big deal. Rudd now has a bum shoulder and was knocked out and Rootiman yet again lost the chance at a top 10 finish due to someone else. I am seeing all this hurrah to Vickers for his run...but why no kudos to Rotty for running so well until he was taken out?
Posted by: Kay | Sep 3, 2007 4:00:03 PM
The Japanese don't know how to put roof hatches in the Toys. It was kind of weird how the track workers started spraying the fire extingisher stuff as Waltrip was getting OUT of the car. Bet that tasted good.
Posted by: Chad | Sep 3, 2007 3:54:07 PM
It's really sad to see waltrip talk! i think the guy believes in him self, which is ok' but he needs to face it.. he keeps saying he's getting better but better at what? if he does make a race, he either blows up, wrecks and last night it seemed like he would never get out of the car!! and another thing is that David R is the best thing that MWR has. and i don't think waltrip gives him enough praise because he is to busy talking about him self...
Posted by: gil | Sep 3, 2007 3:29:51 PM
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