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Drivers and their radios
After we blew a motor on Sunday I had stay late and wait for the motor to be torn down by Nascar because we sat on the pole. During this time I decided to scan some other teams and listen in on some radio conversations between drivers. I guess I had no idea how lucky our team was to have a driver who rarely runs us in the mud. I scanned about 5 drivers and two guys in particular were dog cursing there team for the way they were running. It got to the point on one drivers radio that he spun the car out and wanted the crew chief to tell him what just happened and why. My first thought was, you wrecked you jack ass and its your fault. Either way, there is no room for radio talk that tears apart a team. Nothing good comes out of making some one else look stupid over the radio just because your mad at the way your running. Thats why drivers are paid the most money, because they have the most influence on how the car performs. If its the crew chief or pit crews that make everything happen then we need to adjust the pay scale. Everyone wants to take the bows when things are going good but only the good drivers will stand up and tell you it was there fault when things go bad. I guess its a side of racing I hadn't really seen yet. During the race the only team I usually listen to is ours. It definitely opened my eyes. Its off to Dover.
May 31, 2007 | Permalink
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I can uderstand a drivers frustration when he comes in to pit 3rd, and goes out 8th, and knowing how hard those 5 positions are to gain on track. But it irks me as well, when 10 laps in, a driver is already talking"terrible car' or " a piece of junk" He had all weekend to set it up. My guess is it felt OK when he riding around in practice, at 3/4 throttle, but when he actually has to push it , the handle is not there. Then its the crew chiefs fault?
And look how fast the drivers change their attitude. Their fist year, its "Gosh, I'm just glad to be here" to the next year "this car is junk, and the crew screwed up" Think Carl Edwards and Hamlin.
Posted by: clay | May 31, 2007 9:04:24 AM
Yeah, I have been scanning Newman for two years and I have never heard him bash Borland, Nelson or anyone. He does get irritated if his dad messes up with the spotting, but other than that, he treats his team really well.
Trent, I can only guess as to who you are speaking of, and Kyle Busch has to be one of them. The other? Probably Juan MOntoya.
Posted by: keith12 | May 31, 2007 10:05:04 AM
I have been scanner listening for 2 years myself.
Most of what you hear is dreadfully boring,"Clear, clear at your quarter!"
I listen to only Team 12 for obvious reasons, there my favorite! Once in a while you hear Roger say a few words and of course Don Miller.
Most of all, it gives me an intelligent look into the psyche of Ryan and how he's handling things. It's also a shame they can't make it real time. The delay here in Ohio is about 8 seconds. A lot can happen in 8 seconds!
Ryan is usually a cool customer. He and his father get into it on occasion but Greg is still employed as a spotter so it must be acceptable?
Good luck Trent at Dover! I hope all will go your way?
Posted by: Bob N. | May 31, 2007 3:47:01 PM
I've been listening in to the drivers for about 4 years now and have enjoyed every minute of it. Last week when my favorite driver hit the wall I decided to switch over to Dale Jr. just in time to listen to him telling Tony Jr. that he wanted a ice cold beer when he got out of his car. Listening to the drivers definitely gives you a head up on the crowd. I love listening to the adjustments and calls that are being made, and then watching them take place in 13 seconds. It can actually make you feel like you're a part of the team. I always hate it though when they over adjust the cars. 3 - 5 rounds on the traction bar is a bit much don't you think?
Steve
Posted by: Steve H | May 31, 2007 7:24:54 PM
In all the years I've listened to Ryan, he has been pretty cool on the radio, even when things are bad, now he does get irritated at times..... With Greg, I think as I've said before, it's Dad, so Ryan can take out frustrations on him and he'll still love him and understand, Dad has big shoulders, loves his boy, he can take it!
I know Kurt is a teammate, but if you ever flip to his, when things aren't going well, he will talk to them like they are dogs, irritates the poopiedo out of me... At Texas, I turned just to see, at a point I knew he'd be upset, like getting caught on Pit Road..... I told my brother, if I were his Pit Crew and CC, I'd walk off and let him run the rest of the race alone.....
There is no point in talking to people like that!!!!
Posted by: darlene | May 31, 2007 10:32:57 PM
As a long time scanner listener, I can tell you without hesitation that noone gave his boys more crap than the late great Dale Earnhardt.
Posted by: Neil | Jun 1, 2007 2:11:32 AM
As a long time scanner listener, I can tell you without hesitation that noone gave his boys more crap than the late great Dale Earnhardt.
Posted by: Neil | Jun 1, 2007 2:11:42 AM
Darlene,
When you are as great as Kurt thinks he is, it pretty much is a given that everyone else exists only to meet his every need.
Posted by: nc | Jun 1, 2007 9:04:09 AM
keith12-
actually, you've got the wrong Busch brother. I know for a fact Trent is talking about none other than Newman's teammate -- Kurt Busch. At the track Sunday night, I flipped to Kurt's frequency for a few laps, and less than two laps later, Busch was spinning down the backstretch.
And Trent is right, apparently it wasn't his fault that he wrecked his own race car.
It shouldn't be a surprise, actually, because on Saturday night during the Busch race, when Kurt wrecked, he couldn't figure out why.
It's pretty obvious that the #2 car is fast, but it's lacking in the team aspect. They can qualify, but they can't finish the job. That has seemed to have been a problem around Penske for a while, but Newman's team seems to be coming around.
Posted by: G | Jun 1, 2007 11:53:12 AM
Ya just have to listen to Jack Sprague if you ever get the opportunity. I learned more cussin' ,listening to him than I picked up in 50 yrs of living :^) Quite entertaining.
Posted by: massracin | Jun 1, 2007 12:17:02 PM
I agree Trent. Ryan is an angel compared to other drivers. But then, Ryan is a cut above in many aspects. I love listening to him and his dad interact on the radio. It sounds so "familiy." Greg is great. You are all great. On to a great finish at Dover.
Posted by: Carol | Jun 1, 2007 2:59:23 PM
I agree, Newman is a class act. He's a good driver and hasn't been blaming others for the #12 team's performance. He doesn't badmouth other drivers even when they wreck him and doesn't cry foul about things. Makes him easier to root for. Good luck Trent.
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Jun 2, 2007 11:51:38 AM
Oh but they are so much fun to listen to.
You need an angry driver at every race or it would get boring listening to them check off lap times.
Some of them are entertaining and others are irritating. Jr. is awful fun to listen to and sometimes Tony (if he's in a good mood and things are going his way).
Posted by: cheerio | Jun 2, 2007 7:14:21 PM
Volumes are said when Trent speaks of the other drive and being SO surprised that they would be that way. Shows he's NOT used to being treated that way. I'm really glad to hear that. I like Ryan and am glad he has some class dealing with the crew.
It reminds me of a story a buddy of mine told me about going to Bristol for the Night race in 91 or 92.
He was scanning when he heard Schraeder talking to Ken Howes. Schraeder was BAD FAST that night and Howes asked him how he was he said "Great, You give me a Budweiser and a F@#$%^n Snickers bar and I'll run another 500!!!!!!!! Then both of em started laugihng.
Earnhardt had crashed his car and was running around with the front end chewed up. Childress called him and told him Nascar said he better pick it up or they would have to black flag him.
Earnhardt said "F#$% em, Let Bill France come down here and drive this busted SOB!"
Posted by: Petty Fan | Jun 3, 2007 12:59:29 AM
Oh dang! They just had to bring up last years mosh-pit!!!!!
Posted by: Jen | Jun 4, 2007 1:05:45 PM
You were on TV!!!
Posted by: Alex | Jun 4, 2007 5:14:06 PM
Hey Trent,
Thanks for the warning on the 2 car. Got him off my fantasy team, just in time. Ryan was a bargin, and what great pitstops the Alltel put up.
So, givin' that Hornish is not even close to ready yet who is your pick for a new teammate?
Posted by: Larry | Jun 4, 2007 8:11:51 PM
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