So Long, Farewell

/ Trixie / 1 Comment

Chip Ganassi Racing announced today they are shutting down the #40 team of Dario Franchetti due to sponsorship issues. I have to say this was a little surprising. I mean he has only been in the car this season and he didn’t even get a chance to run all the races. Franchetti missed 5 races due to an ankle injury plus he has failed to qualify for 2 races as well. The #40 is currently sitting 40th in owner points. CGR is committed to developing his Nationwide Series program for Franchetti.

But I can understand why CGR did what they felt they had to do. Running a race team isn’t cheap these days. I can also understand it from a sponsor’s side as well. A sponsor pays quite a bit of moolah to invest in a race team and expect to see their driver in victory lane or at least competing for wins every week. I am sure they don’t want to see their driver on camera for another spin or crash. You get coverage, but it’s the coverage they probably want to see. Is this going to be something the smaller teams will have to do in order to survive in NASCAR? Only time will tell.

One last thing…check this picture out of Tony and Matt…

 

For one this isn’t a very good picture of either driver.  The caption under the picture over at ESPN.com is “Neither former champion, Stewart or Kenseth, is safely in the Chase”, however I think maybe there should have been another, more appropriate caption. My hubby, Postman, thought it looked someone had just walked by both Tony and Tony and well, whiffed one.  I mean look at both of them.  They have that look.  I just thought it was a funny observation that I had to share.   

Post #492

/ Trixie / 1 Comment

I just couldn’t think of anything to call this particular post so I just went with some generic title.

I will however start on a good note for all us Stewart fans out.  Tony won another race for the Nationwide Series #20.  This is the 8th win for this car which has had 4 different drivers behind the wheel this season including Joey Lagano who got his first win this year.  It was wonderful to see Tony back in Victory Lane albeit in a Nationwide Race.  His victory came on an audible by his crew chief Dave Rogers who decided to take only two tires.   Unfortunately the great pit strategy on Saturday wouldn’t translate over to the Cup race on Sunday.

I really thought Tony would carry his momentum from Saturday over to Sunday.  But once again another heartbreak for Tony.  Tony started back in the pack in 28th position.  I don’t usually take stock in where Tony qualifies because one way or another he finds his way to the front and yesterday was no exception.  Tony took the lead for the first time after a caution on lap 138.  He came out of the pits in the lead just inches ahead of Casey Mears. 

And then Lap 271…

As Earnhardt is slowing down to come down pitroad, Jamie rear ends Junior as well as collecting teammate David Ragan.  This brings out the 6th caution of the day.  We knew there were going to be drivers short on fuel.  There was also the approaching thunderstorm.  This was probably going to be the “money stop” for teams.  Several drivers including Kurt Busch stayed out.  Stewart headed down pit road.  He was the first driver of the bunch to take 2 tires.  This put him back in 14th spot.  The final caution came out as Hornish and Bowyer have a meet and greet.  This was lap 280.  NASCAR brings out the red flag four laps later due to the rain and decides to call the race done and declares Kurt Busch the winner.  Tony finishes 13th after leading 132 laps.  Tony became only the 13th driver to lead 10,000 plus laps.  Right before they called the race TNT intereviewed Tony, you could see the disappointment in his eyes as well as disappointment in his voice.  Upside of this is Tony did move up to 9th in the overall standings.  Sometimes it just isn’t your day.

Here is the Top 10 from yesterday

  1. Kurt Busch
  2. Michael Waltrip
  3. J.J. Yeley
  4. Martin Truex
  5. Elliott Sadler
  6. Reed Sorenson
  7. Casey Mears
  8. Denny Hamlin
  9. Jimmie Johnson
  10. Bobby Labonte

Yep…that’s quite a top 10 there folks.  I am not saying they didn’t deserve to be there, because there are times when you have to roll the dice, but there are only two drivers in that whole top 10 who are even in the top 12 in standings.  Like Michel Waltrip said in a post race interview…”he is going to take his 170 points and call it a day.”

Couple of notes…

  • Ron Hornaday wins the truck race on Saturday night.
  • Congratulations to Patrick Carpentier for snagging his first pole.  He finished 31st.  Even though he finished pretty far in the back of the pack it is still a positive step forward. 
  • Tight race for that elusive 12th spot in the standings.  Matt is out of the Top 12 and Kevin Harvick is in, but Matt is only 15 points behind Kevin for that spot with Martin Truex and Ryan Newman biting at the heels.
  • Kyle again tangles with another driver on the track.  I am sure there was some beatin’ and bangin’ going on between the two.  Juan did intentionally spin Busch out and made no bones about it, but Kyle stood his ground.  I believe Juan was penalized two spots in the race finish for his spin (if not please let me know).
  • Casey Mears out of the #5 over at HMS.  While watching the race yesterday all I could think of was..Mears-Penske..Mears-Penske.  Sound familiar folks? 

One final note…I don’t usually make too many predictions/projections because I am usually wrote 99.9% of the time, but I am going to make one here.  I believe Tony has made up his mind about his future.  And I belive we will all know before the end of July. 

Any Which Way But Loose

/ Trixie / 1 Comment

Once again it’s a two for one day here in The Park. 

Postman noticed an article on ESPN.com last night and proceeded to share it with me.  I mean I give him credit, he does know how to keep me informed about my driver.  According to this article over at ESPN.com, multiple sources have said that Tony is looking for car sponsorhsips for his potential move to Haas CNC.   And another soucre close to the situation have Ryan Newman tagged as a possible second driver.  It seems Office Depot and Old Spice have moved to the top of the sponsor leader board. If this is all true as sources close to the situation have stated, then this fan will definitely go into debt supporting the Office Depot sponsor.  Next to NASCAR, office supplies are my other addiction.  Some people like to shop for shoes, clothes, etc…not me…put me in an office supply store and I am happy for hours.  One of my fellow workers even crowned me the “Office Supply Whore”.  So my main addiction NASCAR would certainly feed the other, slightly small-less annoying, addiction.  I mean I would have to support my driver’s sponsor which ultimately may leave me broke and standing on a corner looking for my next office supply hit.

As we have heard for pretty much the last few months, Tony may or may not be moving to another team after the 2008 season.  We know his contract with JGR runs through 2009.  We know JGR wants to try to keep Tony behind the 2009 season and perhaps would like for him to retire there.  We also know Tony is intereested in becoming a car owner.  Other than that, that’s all I want to know at this point in the season.

Has all of this talk of moving from JGR had an effect on his performance?  I don’t know.  I am sure it has some a little.  Uncertanity within a team can perhaps create some ill feelings among crew members.   I am not close to the situation so I could speculate on anything they may be occuring over at JGR.  I do know when you have someone who is leaving your workplace for other pastures, it is sometimes hard to be positive and upbeat knowing they will not be around to celebrate the fruits of your labor.   

I always have to chuckle when reporters use the phrase “according to multiple sources close to the situation”.  I know this something that occurs quite often in reporting.  But until I hear the words from Tony Stewart himself, and to be honest he is the closest to the situation, I will assume Tony is staying at JGR for next season. 

I believe once Tony decides on what he wants to do with his future, everything else will fall into place with all the other rumors, half-truths and conspiracies.  Plus no matter what Tony decides for his future, it is his to make and this fan will follow whereever he might land.

One last thing…I want you to know I gave it the “old college try” on Monday.  I honestly tried to sit down and watch “Talladega Nights”.  I did.  I sat threw the first 30 minutes or so of the movie.  I went into this watching experience with an open mind and I came to one conclusion…THAT’S 30 MINUTES OF MY LIFE I CAN’T GET BACK! 

Slower Traffic

/ Trixie / Leave a comment

This flag should have been thrown this morning. I swear it must be “Drive Slow To Work Day”. I wasn’t even late for work. I was on track to make it early to work, but damn what was with the drivers this morning? Hello, do you not remember driver’s ed? Slower cars to the right so that faster cars can pass on by. And I was even going the speed limit to boot. Of course it didn’t feel like it when you have cars that are in parade mode. One piece of advice…it’s the pedal on the right…you should try it some time!

Tony Stewart Experience

/ Trixie / 3 Comments

While listening to my Sirius online I hear this little promo for the chance to enter this contest…Tony Stewart Experience

I registered, don’t know if I will win, but you can’t win if you don’t enter. If you want to enter, you have until 5:00 pm EST, July 7, 2008 to enter.

I called my hubby, Postman and mentioned the contest and asked him he could handle the exeperience. His response was very lukewarm. Said he probably wouldn’t be able to take off work. I know he is not a big fan of Tony’s, but come on now…this would be a once in a life time chance to hang with Tony. Of all my peeps, he would be the only one that would understand the NASCAR thing. I guess if he doesn’t want to go (if I were to win), then I would have to find someone else.

I don’t care…I still entered!

George Carlin

/ Trixie / Leave a comment

I know two posts in one day. I just couldn’t go the day without mentioning the death of George Carlin. I thought he was very funny and he really made you think about things. I saw this routine about “Stuff” and no matter how many times I saw it was funny.

Of course some of us may remember George as Fillmore in the movie Cars.