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June 08, 2006
This Silly Season Talk Is Silly.
By Mark Young
Fasten your seat belts friends, silly season is about ready to get really silly. Earlier today it was announced that Hendrick Motor Sports is allowing Brian Vickers to find a new ride for 2007 and instantly rumors are abound as to where he will go next. Vickers, along with Case Mears, seem to be hot commodities in the eyes of the media but is it really worth all the noise?
Now this is no disrespect to Brian or Casey, they are young and have talent yet to be fully taken advantage of yet, but let's face it neither of these two have won a race in a Cup car. Brian Vickers has been driving for the premier Chevrolet team since 2004 and though he has had decent finishes he hasn't met the expectations laid upon him. Some people say it is because he is the R&D driver but hey, an experimental chassis or motor from Hendrick is better than most team's best stuff. Casey is having a breakout year of sorts but if you look at his stats they are nothing to jump up and scream about either.
I guess what I am trying to say is that the media is blowing some of these driver's change of business address way out of proportion. The racing on the track has been so vanilla for the past two or three years that they are jonesin' for a good story.
An open slot at Hendrick is the first domino to fall in what is sure to be an interesting chain of events. Rick doesn't have a young phenom in the Busch Series so he will likely attract someone with experience to fill his void when Vickers leaves. Could it be Casey Mears? The MB2/DEI rumor could mean Nemechek might need a ride. There are others out there he could lure with his bottomless pit of money, but time will tell and this blogger has a feeling it will be sooner than later because Toyota isn't finished spending cash.
For cryin' out loud, it's only June!!! Can't we just focus on the racing?
June 8, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
you bring up a good point
what with the talents of these 2 drivers
they both would be a catch where ever they end up
great topic Mark
Posted by: trucker | Jun 8, 2006 5:23:51 PM
It only gets sooner and sillier...
Hurry! Hurry, Step right up folks the France Family Circus is a sight to behold!
Posted by: Tbfka# 5 | Jun 8, 2006 5:25:32 PM
"The racing on the track has been so vanilla for the past two or three years...." First of all, what is "vanilla," anyway?
The problem is the racing away from the plate tracks has been uncompetitive. The rules packages aren't working (the only one that does is the roof spoiler package and that's only in use in BGN on the plate tracks) and the drivers as a group aren't trying hard enough.
On Vickers and Mears, they're joining Toyota. Vickers I'm not sure will amount to much but Mears has improved a lot as a driver the last two seasons.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Jun 8, 2006 6:34:52 PM
Mike, Mike, Mike
How do the drivers not try hard enough? Granted the Aero package sucks but to think they don't wheel it in as hard as the package allows is absurd. Why would you even watch if you feel that way?
I'm not sure about either driver...They both seem to be works in progress.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 8, 2006 7:33:01 PM
Vanilla means plain Mike and your reasoning with the aero rules are the exact reason why.
I doubt that both of them will go Toyota, one yes but Red Bull is going to get a seasoned veteran.
Posted by: Mark | Jun 8, 2006 7:45:48 PM
Mike Daly?
Absurd?
Isn't that synonymous?
Posted by: Marc | Jun 8, 2006 7:47:40 PM
Daly, did you really say they weren't trying hard enough? You can't be serious.
Posted by: Mark | Jun 8, 2006 8:18:33 PM
Marc,
or maybe redundant?
Posted by: Keith | Jun 8, 2006 8:21:31 PM
I'll say Vickers to Red Bull, Mears to Yates, Currently Red Bull is in "Race City", but I've heard they are building a new shop in Denver NC, havn't really had a chance to keep up with my contacts since speed weeks here, other than confirming Trent DIDN'T break any bones.
I think that both Vickers and Mears have talent, but todays "Young Guns" are cherry picked to some great equipment...even if it is "R & D" equipment. What might have been construde as "raw talent" gets lost in translation to Cup, It should be real interesting to see the next "Hot Shoe" transition from Truck or Busch to the COT!
Posted by: Tbfka# 5 | Jun 8, 2006 9:30:00 PM
I think Mears will end up in the 25; he and Jimmie are good friends, although he and Kyle not so much... As for BV, he's making a career dooming decision I think. Hendrick had just signed him to a multi-year extension that hadn't been reported yet and was ready to drag him along for several more years. Instead, he wants to leave and go the 88 or Toyota, I guess thinking he is going to be more competitive there. Good luck with that. He had his shot in a top ride and couldn't get it done.
Posted by: wHw | Jun 8, 2006 10:01:56 PM
I can't believe 2 young (So called Guns) getting this much Press....I can see Mears leaving Cheap Chip, cause almost anything is better than where he is!!!!!But for Vickers to leave Hendricks, is just stupid!!! He is Lucky to have that Ride, or maybe he saw the hand writting on the wall....Where they going to go, to a unsponsored #88 with UPS gone....In this one I see Mears the winner, and Vickers back in Bush sooner than he thinks!!!!
Posted by: steve | Jun 8, 2006 10:03:56 PM
Steve,
Vickers is the fourth wheel at HMS, he'll never measure up to JJ, Gordon, Shrub Busch. Vickers should go to Ganassi where he'll have strong sponsorship in Texaco, and he won't have to play fourth fiddle to the three other HMS boys.
I'm no fan at all of HMS, but Vickers is the only one I can tolerate.
Mears' leaving is surprising, because he's the big man on campus at Ganassi. I think he's getting a big head now that he has been the main talk in silly seaosn.
Posted by: 12jay19 | Jun 8, 2006 10:26:44 PM
He's the fourth wheel for a reason. You don't think Rick Hendrick has done everything he can to put that kid in victory lane?
Posted by: wHw | Jun 8, 2006 10:39:36 PM
12jay19
I agree with you, but Vickers still has a better deal at Hendricks....(Not a Herdicks guy) more DEI......But even the 4th wheel there, he is still going to do better by mistake than going to Ganassi, who doesn't pay well and Hendricks has more to offer him....He sure would not be on Inside Nextel Cup if he was a Ganassi driver, plus the TV commercials etc....
Posted by: steve | Jun 8, 2006 10:46:50 PM
It is a good move for Mears. Ganassi is no better than the piles my dog leaves in the backyard.
On the other hand Vickers is an idiot for not staying at Hendrick.
My prediction, Mears goes to Yates taking Texaco with him. What an amazing reunion? Then Vickers goes to Toyota, where he will be even worse.
Posted by: nicholas | Jun 8, 2006 10:50:27 PM
Whyme? says: I really hate to talk bad about Brian Vickers because I get this bad feeling about rick hendrick and his death. But with all that put aside, the 25 car has not been really competitive sine Tim Richmond drove it in the 80's.
Ken Schrader has some success in that car, in fact he got all of his 4 career wins with HMS. But, Brian Vickers should have been moved to that 5 car and Busch to the 25. Either way, Kyle would have been great like he is now, I just think that Vickers was in superior equipment in the busch series in 2003 when he won the title just like Truex was in top equipment when he won. Look at him now.
Vickers more then likely will end up with toyota. He would not dare leave HMS for the #88 team and their struggles. He will drive for the Red Bull team. This move also takes away the preasure he is going through with not winning at HMS. Let's face it. Even though he is the fourth driver at HMS he still has better equipment then Dale Jr. at this point.
I said it before and I will say it once more. You have wheel holders and then you have drivers. Brian Vickers in my opinion is a wheel holder. Kyle Busch, even though he has an attitude, is a driver. Casey Mears is about as talented as Vickers. Mears should have stayed in open wheel because he really has not found his way in the heavy cup cars yet. Sure a second at Daytona, but I could get behind the wheel and run competively there. Some may argue the success he had last season and how he was robbed. Dude, if he had the winning car then he had the winning car.
Blaming NASCAR is just saying I had a good car when I was in front by myself. When other challengers got near him he lost. Point blank. In any case, look for him to wind up in that #25 car. Does anyone besides me remember when Travis Kvapil was a development driver for Yates racing? Keep that in mind as silly season kicks into gear.
Posted by: whyme? | Jun 8, 2006 11:07:15 PM
I meant Rick Hendrick's death
Posted by: whyme? | Jun 8, 2006 11:08:30 PM
Ricky Hendrick...damn it!!!!
Posted by: whyme? | Jun 8, 2006 11:08:57 PM
Why me where ya been? Great comments but I got to throw my two cents worth.
Better equipment than Jr.? Engines yes chassis no.
Look at Truex now? He's a rookie for cripe's sake. He is going to be just fine. Nothing spectacular yet but just watch.
Vickers is nuts to leave Hendrick. In this case the grass is NOT greener on theother side.
Mears might have a big head but if he was in Hendrick, Rousch, or even DEI stuff he would excell. Good move for him bad for Brian.
Thanks for the comments!!!
Posted by: Mark | Jun 8, 2006 11:19:28 PM
Keith, can they force the issue more? Can they try harder for the lead? Yes, they can do both of these things. I watch racing because I love racing, and am sick and tired of the excuses for them not racing hard.
Mark, the aero rules don't make the draft work - that's not "vanilla." Vanilla is something different from this issue. As for the drivers not trying hard enough, yes I am serious. Why should anyone be offended at someone saying the drivers aren't trying hard enough? The drivers HAVE TO RACE HARDER.
Marc, you want absurdity then re-read your own opinions.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Jun 9, 2006 12:09:53 AM
Please someone help me understand why Mike Daly logs on to these blogs?
Posted by: Diane | Jun 9, 2006 1:36:47 AM
As usual Daily you are out in left field on this issue and many others. Vickers is going to Red Bull IMO. That would give him #1 driver status on a team that will make him a winner some day. Driving for Hendrick he has to put up with the arrogant Kyle, the whiners Jeff and Johnson, and settle for leftovers. Mears, if not lured by the cash to Toyota, might wind up at DEI or Hendrick. I really feel though both these guys will go to Toyota teams, possibly as teamates.
Posted by: Jim | Jun 9, 2006 7:13:42 AM
Besides all the concerns about where Brian and Casey might go, I am extremely sad for Brian. The 25 is Ricky's team, and Ricky picked Brian. When Ricky passed away, I thought Mr. Hendrick would step up and make sure that team succeeded. Maybe none of this has anything to do with money, winning, or anything like that. I worked very closely with a person for seven years who had a very untimely death. I LOVED my job. But after about 8 months, I had to leave. It just wasn't the same. Maybe that's what Brian is dealing with.
Or maybe he and Mikey are having talks on the INC set and making a "deal." There's only a few that know what is actually going on, and we'll know what they want us to know, when they want us to.
Mears going to Yates just seems to be a "lateral" move - as I believe Jimmy Spencer said on one of his many shows on SPEED. BUT, if Casey goes to RYR and takes Havoline, I hope they make it the 28. That car in Victory Lane, along with the 43, would bring tears to the eyes of any true NASCAR fan.
I'm waiting for NAPA to announce that UPS will be their "official" courier. That's when you know UPS is going with DJ.
Posted by: Shirley | Jun 9, 2006 8:58:41 AM
Is this the same Mike Daly (aka little MonkeeBoy) at stp43fan@hotmail.com that bores people to death at many other blogs thru-out the internet? I actually look forward to his little diatribes. I think he's actually Professor Irwin Corey the "world's foremost authority". BTW Mike, the Monkees didn't play their own musical instruments, somebody with talent did.
Posted by: Keith#3 | Jun 9, 2006 9:08:28 AM
Why is it so hard for some of you to believe that Vickers is sick of being the head tire scuffer for Hendrick Motor sports.With Terry running his last races this year, all the tire scuffing duties for the #24 & #48 would be his.
Posted by: hostage94 | Jun 9, 2006 9:15:16 AM
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