Turn 3

Just Shut Up Kyle Busch

By Mark Young

Now I am sure some of you out there are shaking your head wondering how in the world I could crown Kyle Busch King Of The Mountain on Monday and then tell him to Shut Up in my next post.  Well my friends Kyle asked for it by mistaking victory lane for a podium.  "They suck" was his quote on national TV when asked what he thought about the Car of Tomorrow, real smooth Kyle, real smooth.  My response to you is quite simple, JUST SHUT UP!!!

U WANT SOME?

In case you missed the race, or in some cases forgot there was a race because everyone was so worried about the COT, Kyle Busch was the first NASCAR driver to win a race in the COT.  Quite the dubious honor considering all of the hype, build-up, and criticism that surrounded this seven year project.

Young man you don't seem to understand that you get paid to drive a race car for a living, a pretty lucrative living at that I might add.  Now I am sure that every time you strap into a race car it isn't perfect.  If it was you would have more than just four victories in your very young career.  You have a ton of talent and I respect that, I know I can't do what you do.  But to shoot off and say “I said that I wanted to go out and win this race so I could tell everybody how terrible this thing is to drive, I can’t stand to drive them. They suck.” doesn't show much class.  I can name a handful of drivers that sat at home on Sunday who failed to qualify that would donate bodily organs to stand where you did.

I understand that everyone has the right to free speech but that was not the right place or the right time to do it.  The COT is not going away so get used to it.  If you don't like it then go to the Busch Series and drive there.  Show us that you are a good driver and adapt to what you have to run.  I have no doubt that you can do it, just show some class and do your criticizing constructively.

That's what I think, what say you?

King Of The Mountain; Kyle Busch

By Mark Young

Well the younger of the Busch brothers finally got a win on Sunday after several weeks of running up front.  Kyle and his #5 team can put a feather in their cap that they were the first team to win a race with the new car of tomorrow configuration and at Bristol to boot.  This is the first race of the year that Kyle has won in NEXTEL Cup but he has made his presence known at one point in time at every event this year.  Though he may not have had the best car of the race yesterday I still think he is very deserving of the title King Of The Mountain.

Sunday's race began with dozens of unanswered questions regarding the COT and how it would perform, I believe that it passed with flying colors.  Kyle and his team get digging and working on the car to keep it up front when the checkered flags fell.  At one point after a restart Kyle used up his tires very early in a run and radio traffic heard him announce that he was "An idiot".  He remembered that lesson and paced himself to stay out front, holding back two cars that appeared to be better than him.

Kyle Busch is a great young talent that we should all get used to seeing on TV because this kid isn't going away anytime soon.  HOWEVER, this is not the only time you will read about Kyle in this writer's blogs this week.  I have a bone to pick with him regarding some things he said yesterday.

That's what I think, what say you?

NASCAR's new stock car

By DAVID GREEN

The debate goes on, in Mark Young's post, in other forums and in the media and NASCAR Nation at large, about the new NASCAR racecar. I suppose it's a necessary process, even though it's all so much hot air at this point -- and will be, as several observers have noted, until we have more than Bristol on which to base our comment and criticism.

I won't get into that, other than to dismiss the most radical criticism as hysteria and to note that I, for one, like the looks of the bigger, boxier car just fine. I don't mind the splitter and the wing, and I don't believe they are any more fragile than the airdams and blade spoilers they are replacing. I don't think they make the cars look any less stock than the airdams and the seven-inch-tall blades did, either.

And I'd like to weigh in on the debate about what to call NASCAR racecars, now that they supposedly are no longer "stock" cars. I vote for -- "stock cars."

The term "stock car" was always a contrived one. The notion that NASCAR machines came from vehicles that were in dealers' inventory, or "stock," was a stretch in the first place -- a convenient and functional one, but still a stretch. Nobody ever, ever referred to their street vehicle as a "stock car," because that term came into use to describe a type of racing vehicle.

It's like the word "overwhelm." It's not made up of a prefix attached to a commonly used, functioning word with which we were all familiar. It's a special word, the meaning of which 99 percent of English speakers intuitively understood (from context, or just from some innate obviousness) the very first time they heard or read it.

Likewise, the meaning of the term "stock car" quickly became a part of the lexicon a half-century or so ago. It refers to a racing vehicle with a full-fendered body that resembles a production passenger car.

That's precisely what a Nextel Cup machine is, both the new one and the one it is replacing.

I found it interesting that one of the big topics of discussion at Miami-Homestead Speedway this weekend is the matter of driver rivalries, between a pair of Brazilians (Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan) and between the winners of the last two Indy 500s (Sam Hornish Jr. and Dan Wheldon).

How refreshing -- that the buzz is about drivers racing against each other, and not the technical specs of their cars. Maybe someday we'll get to enjoy that again in stock car racing.

Before putting a "30" on this -- rest in peace, Eric Medlin, and may God comfort the Medlin family and all the folks at John Force Racing.

The Dawn Of A New Era

By Mark Young

Today NASCAR opens a new chapter of the modern era of stock car racing.  Three years of speculation, analyzing, criticizing, and praise will be put to test on Sunday when the Car of Tomorrow becomes the car of now.  How will the front splitter hold up?  Will the rear wing come into play?  Will it allow for more air onto the front of a pursuing car?  Will the racing action be better?  Some of these questions will be answered, some of them won't.

I have been an optimistic fan for over a year now and am very anxious to see what happens because I believe something had to change with the way these cars are made.  The cars of yesterday had become modern art so to speak with twisted chassis and contorted bodies.

Hopefully we won't have to put the safety features to test because if we do then that surely means a driver has been put in a compromising position and we all don't want to see that.  I sincerely hope that the racing on the track will be the focus of conversation on Monday morning rather than blown out of proportion discussions about a car that every team and every driver will have to drive for many more races to come.  Some people are going to hate it and some are going to love it, regardless of all that if they want to race this is the vehicle they have to build and drive.

The car of tomorrow has become the car of now......LET'S GO RACIN'!!!!

That's what I think, what say you?

King Of The Mountain; Mike Skinner

By Mark Young

Let me start this gig off by saying that Jimmie Johnson's dominance the past two weeks is very deserving of the throne but I am going to deny him of it for the simple reason that Mike Skinner and the Craftsman Truck Series gets only a fraction of the exposure they deserve.  So without further adieu I hereby decree that by the powers vested in me by TR.com that MIKE SKINNER be King Of The Mountain.

U WANT SOME?

Why Mike Skinner?  Did you know that his victory at Atlanta Friday night was second consecutive win of the season?  In three races this season Skinner has three top 5 finishes and leads the point series by 69 over Todd Bodine.  I tell you what, if you haven't seen a truck race in a while give it a try.  These guys go out and run the wheels off those things every race in front of empty grandstands, a fairly small TV audience, and a helluva lot less cash than the other two series.  These guys should be racing on Saturday before the Cup races and not the Busch cars.  If Cup guys want to come and race trucks fine, it would help boost ratings, sell more seats, and not ruin the careers of so many young Busch Series drivers by choking them off.

You might think Skinner is a has-been that couldn't hack it in Cup, he didn't win there but ran very well more times than not.  In the trucks he kicks ass and deserve his moment in the sun.....even if it is just in this blogger's little piece of the Internet.

That's what I think, what say you?

Quick Takes on Atlanta

By Keith Ott

  I have to send a heartfelt apology to the folks in Fontana.  Compared to Atlanta, the California track was filled to the brim.  The stands were so devoid of fans that I actually checked the TV menu to see if I hadn’t put the Busch re-run on.  It was never mentioned in the booth, which was a shame.  The racing was so poor it could have been the big story of the day.

  Speaking of racing, did anyone see any?  After 450 miles of saving their stuff, as the booth pointed out all afternoon, I guess they forgot where they put it.  Everyone except Johnson, that is.  He found his stuff and put it to good use.

  The best quote of the day, hands down, goes to the NAPA commercial.

Waltrip: “Hey, Sammy, can ya turn down the amp a bit?”

Hagar: “Hey, you think you can drive a little faster?”

  It’s good to see NAPA has a sense of humor.  I wonder how long they’ll keep smiling.

  And, lastly, them dang debris gremlins were as punctual as ever.  Right when I was feeling the onset of a nap out they’d run onto the track.  It’s probably just coincidental that the leader had about a 10sec lead and had almost lapped the field.  Or, that some of the big names weren’t going to make it on fuel.  Yep, probably just coincidental.

Look Into My Crystal Ball

By Mark Young

Happy race day my friends.  Have lots to do this morning before the start of the race, at a normal time for once @ 1:30 EDT so I will keep this one short but to the point.  As I was straightening up my dungeon this morning I picked up one of my bowling balls (can't understand why the wife says 8 is too many) and was struck with a vision.  As I held the ball in my hand I glimpsed further into it and rubbed it like a crystal ball used by fortune tellers and then rushed to share with you what I saw.

U WANT SOME?

Seriously, I did not take a sip out of that mason jar in the top shelf of the cabinet, I don't have the guts to do it without supervision.  I did have a vision though and I hope I am wrong with part of it.  By this evening we will have drivers, crew-chiefs, and owners complaining about tires.....again.  The difference this time is that they were too soft.  We saw tire issues yesterday in Atlanta in the Busch race.  Today the cars are a little heavier and a lot more powerful, not a good mix for a tire that is a little softer than yesterday.  Last week they were complaining because there were too hard and though I would agree with them that is what they all had to use.  I might just have to cut and paste parts of my Just Shut Up from last week for this coming week.  Just change the names and the locations.  I sure hope not though.

Atlanta is known for multiple grooves and close finishes and I think today will give us another one, albeit if it is orchestrated in the tower by a mysterious debris caution.  In my vision this morning I saw a red car in victory lane with a #8 on it.  Junior will win by a nose over Tony Stewart followed closely by Jeff Burton.  If this doesn't pan out I might just take a sip of the mason jar to ease the pain of all of you who say I'm crazy.

That's what I think, what say you?

A Real "Top 35" for Busch Teams

By Keith Ott

I have always been a “Race it in” type guy.  Best qualifying times make the show.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  And, this is still my mantra, when it’s done with a level playing field.  I love the Cup “Superstars” mixing it in, on a limited basis, with the Busch wannabe’s.  I think it’s good for them to learn moves from the best, of the best.  And, that’s how it used to be.    There wasn’t a flood of Cuppers racing Busch in the past.  It was a trickle.  Sponsors, TV exposure, and a monetary advantage, leading to a cheap payday, turned Busch into CASHCAR-Lite.  Pope Brian, let’s fix this here leak before the boat sinks and no-one gets liberty.  And, dammit, I like liberty!

  Let’s start on “My” Busch “Top 35.”  BTW, 35 is just a random #.  More or less would be ok with me as long as “real” Busch teams average 70 to 80% of the field.  You can have your say on that number later.  Ok, so let’s choose what makes a real “Busch” team.

This is my criterion, it’s mostly driver based, and this would start from the previous season.

-          If, during the previous season, your driver exceeded the number of Cup races that would allow him/her to keep Cup “Rookie” status…You “ARE NOT” a Busch team.  I like it.  It’s clean and simple.  It also allows Busch drivers to try for Cup races and maintain their “Busch Team” status.  It even allows Cup regulars to fight amongst each other to qualify on times, for the remaining spots, to get into a Busch event.

-          If, during the current season, your driver exceeds the number of Cup races allowed to keep rookie status, then you are no-longer a Busch eligible team.  You compete to qualify on time with the other non-quals.

  Ok, it’s my base level plan and it needs work and some exemptions will arise, and I see a few.  But, it’s at least a start.  We can talk the demise of the Busch Series to death.  But, unless something is started it will be gone. 

Your thoughts?

Afterthoughts:  I would hate for anyone to think I endorse Nextel’s “Top 35” for their Cup series.  The Busch racers need protection from “Mega-dollar” Cup teams.  The Cup teams neither need nor deserve special treatment to make an event.  Sponsors, and I don’t care how much they spend, should not determine who gets to race.  The sport is about the event, and the event is racing.  All the variables of racing should apply to all the teams.

It’s time to drop down to Busch

By Mike Harper

CJM Racing, the No. 72 Nextel Cup Series team has earned my respect.

I’ve found in my professional career that being a decision-maker for an organization can be one of the toughest jobs around. I would imagine being an owner in the Nextel Cup Series ranks right up as being one of the hardest jobs in the land, because the level of stress regarding the race-team operations and retaining valuable sponsorship would be a difficult challenge to say the least.

In today’s Nextel Cup Series we’re seeing a totally different level of business. It’s not for the weak at heart or even the cheap at heart. To compete you’ve got to have a rich and aggressive backbone to even make it in the sport.

It doesn’t matter who you are, what kind of famous name you have, the bottom line is if you can’t cut it in NASCAR’s elite series, you’ll end up watching the race from home or ultimately closing shop.

This week on my radio show I had the privilege of interviewing driver Andy Belmont. I consider Andy a friend and one thing I respect about Andy is he speaks his mind. He’ll tell it like it is even when it’s not the popular opinion. But in most cases Andy is spot-on.

In our talk, several discussion points stood out in my mind. But one point keeps ringing in my head and it surrounds how the sport (ARCA & NASCAR) has changed. From the cost of doing business to actual team business tactics on obtaining sponsorships – they’ve all changed from the way it was done in the past. It’s the new NASCAR.

It seems like it was only yesterday the big discussion was about "field fillers" because the Nextel Cup Series didn’t have enough cars in a 43-car field that could call themselves competitive. Today, competitive drivers and sponsors are going home instead of spending race day on the track and in my opinion that’s criminal.

Millions of dollars are thrown at one chance, one shot to make a weekend race. It’s past the point of ridiculous!

The No. 72 CJM racing team has decided to pull the plug on their Nextel Cup Series efforts and go Busch racing. I applaud this move. It’s a good sound business decision and I think many more should follow CJM's example.

Michael Waltrip’s NAPA team can’t make a race these days, Red Bull Racing is struggling, Kenny Wallace has gone from racing every weekend to only when he makes a race and Jeremy Mayfield hasn’t seen the green flag drop on a Sunday afternoon this season. I feel these teams should revisit their business plans and build their teams within the Busch Series. I say work up - isn’t that what the Busch Series was built for?

Throwing all your eggs in the Nextel Cup Series basket is proving to be a mistake for these teams. Especially for some of these start-up teams and in today’s racing environment it won’t take too long before your dreams end up burnt scrambled eggs sitting at the bottom of the garbage can.

Just Shut Up And Drive!!

By Mark Young

Today is going to be a short and sweet one my friends because everyone has been talking about it and quite frankly I am tired of it and just want to go to Atlanta.  I am sick and tired of everyone whining and complaining about Las Vegas and the next track configuration.  From Tony Stewart whimpering about people not calling him and asking his opinion to Jeff Gordon crying about the tires that Goodyear brought to the track to everyone else that just hates change I tell you all to JUST SHUT UP AND DRIVE!!!

U WANT SOME?

I understand that it is human nature to dislike change.  In some ways I am no different, but if it weren't for people who were tired of the situation they were in and did something about it we wouldn't be talking about racing today but possibly about how deprived we are by the changes made by a fascist government.  Bruton Smith didn't like the old version of the track in Vegas so in an effort to improve racing he changed.....all of it, right down to the buildings in the infield.  The track was fast in testing and because of all the grip there were some tire issues.  Keeping safety in mind Goodyear went to a tire so hard that you had to wonder if Fred Flinstone once used them.  Then the proverbial stuff hit the fan.

The drivers didn't like the feel of the tire.  They spun out without notice.  Speeds were down considerably since the first test.  Then the whining and complaining started.  I'm sorry guys, but if you don't like the situation then don't race!!  Open-wheel had that happen at Texas Motor speedway a few years ago when they tried to race there and drivers wound up getting vertigo from the high speeds.  The drivers boycotted and the race was canceled.  If Tony Stewart hated the track so much that he had to rant about it all weekend then maybe he should have let A.J. Almendinger or Michael Waltrip drive his car.

Now I haven't watched the race in it's entirety yest but from what I recall there wasn't any major tire issues on Sunday.  Nobody blew right front tires and smashed the wall.  Not one driver complained of blistering.  In essence Goodyear did their job.  They provided a safe tire for the situation.  As for the track itself although a bit bumpy into turn one and the transition to the banking being a little harsh the action was fantastic for a first year run.  With more time this track should offer racing action similar to Atlanta.  You guys remember Atlanta don't you?  Remember 1997 and the first time you ran there?  You complained that it was too fast and the tires blew because Goodyear brought a soft tire.  Now you all love driving there because of the multiple grooves when there was only one for the first couple of races.  Vegas will have multiple grooves but it will take time.

Just shut up and drive or go home.

That's what I think, what say you?