(NASCAR) DEI restructuring

ThatsRacin.com ^ | 11/30/04

[Wolfstar]

I can't believe someone scooped me on a Jr story.

I posted it with you in mind. Before I "met" you on these NASCAR threads, it would never have occurred to me to post any NASCAR news on FR. Here's an update from a ThatsRacin.com article today:

Pete Rondeau has been moved to the crew chief position of the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet. He took over as Crew Chief on the No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet during the latter portion of the 2004 Nextel Cup Series season. Rondeau led Earnhardt, Jr. to a Busch Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway this year and Ron Fellows to a second-place finish at Watkins Glen International.

So, what's your opinion of these changes? As for me, to the extent that I watch any racing next year, I will be rooting for three teams, the #24, #48 and #8. I hope one of them wins the championship next year.

[Wolfstar]

BTW, WCG, there's a somewhat light-hearted poll up at ThatsRacin.com. The question is: Who's your driver of the year? The choices are:

Kurt Busch, the champ. 141 votes (11%)
Jimmie Johnson, who won the most races. 334 votes (26%)
Jeff Gordon, the old-system champ. 284 votes (22%)
Dale Earnhardt Jr., because he's an Earnhardt. 355 votes (27%)
Someone else. 193 votes (15%)

Notice that Busch received the least number of votes so far, 4 percentage points behind "Someone else."

[houeto]

What's the controvery over the radios with Eury and Jr.? I missed the story somehow.

[Hatteras]

NASCAR should finish their season, declare a champion and then have a post-season, three race "Race-Off". In the weeks before the banquet in New York, take the top 10 and have a short track race, a 1-1/2 mile race and a restrictor plate race for cash only. Kind of like the IROC series only in Official Nextel Cup cars and have a format similar to the Winston, er, I mean that all-star, whatever the heck they call it now race. Heck, make them draw for NASCAR supplied cars in different colors... except Kurt Busch. Kurt Busch gets the pink car.

[Wolfstar]

I could easily support a true playoff system for NASCAR. It's the hybrid mess they have now that I and many other fans hate. As for Kurt Busch, he undoubtedly is the most unpopular "champion" in NASCAR history. NASCAR can call him a champion, and the racing media may parrot NASCAR's line, but the fans know a real champion when they see one. And Kurt Busch most definitely is not the real deal.

[Dog Gone]

Every time I see his face, I want to slap it. Not sure why. General principles, I guess.

[Wolfstar]

Every time I see his face, I want to slap it.

You, Jimmy Spencer, just about everyone else in the NASCAR garage, and at least 3/4ths of NASCAR fans.

Me? I tend to be a sunny, glass-half-full type of person. So I tend not to dislike any of the drivers (other than Robby Gordon). I have a short list of drivers I really like, and am neutral about the rest of them. But with all of NASCARland trying to force this entirely undeserving pseudo-champ down my throat -- and saying if you don't like it STFU and get lost -- well, the most visible symbol I can direct my anger at is Kurt Busch. So now I despise him.

[WestCoastGal]

I think the problem with Jr and the Eury's (Pops and Jr) is that they are related and are too close. It's much easier to fight with family than someone else. Below is an example of one of their radio conversations at Darlington during the final race for the chase this year.

Also, Jr can get testy and annoyed easily if the car setup is not working. On the other hand, Tony Eury Jr had trouble fixing a problem with the car because he didn't understand what the problem was. I can't remember which race that was. Boils down to communication. Sometimes a change is good, I imagine Jr gave his ok on this as did Budweiser and Napa.

---

Dale Jr. "I hit the wall pretty hard three or four laps ago. Car is terrible. The second run was the best it's been. We're going the wrong way, and I don't like it. There's absolutely no grip in the back."
Tony Eury Jr.: (car chief) "Well, the last time you said it was tight, so all I did was go one-and-a-half up on the track bar. You want me to take bite out, but I'm telling ya you'll lose even more grip. Don't worry about the second run, and let me do what I think needs to be done."
Dale Jr. "I don't want bite, I want grip! I ain't doing nothing wrong."
Tony Jr.: "No, you're doing fine. You're just getting irritated with me."
Dale Jr. "Junior, this is Darlington. I can't help it. I don't like this track. I'm apologizing now. I hate it. The car isn't good on long runs. The long runs are no good."

[Dog Gone]

Dale Earnhardt Sr was the driver I loved to hate, although I had enormous respect for his skills. It just made it more fun hoping he'd have a bad day. Ever since his fatal accident I've missed him for that.

Kurt Busch has replaced Earnhardt in that role for me. I want to see that punk have a bad day every race. If his car is towed off the track during the race, that's even better.

[WestCoastGal]

Don't forget to watch ESPN Classic tonight and the next two nights for Earnhardts races then there will be more of his races including IROC the next week.

See Nascar withdrawal thread for times (post 144).

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1286853/posts

[vigilence]

I thought it was very interesting the other night when NASCAR had their awards program in New York (why don't they have it in a southern city or Vegas at least?) and when Jeff Gordon was speaking he alluded to the chase and the fact that under the old format he would have been Driver of the Year but in a joking manner while endorsing the Çhase. I know NASCAR is trying to appeal to the most fans it can to generate more overall popularity and increase the money for all in the sport but I wish they'd kept the old format and remember their roots a bit more.