January 13th, 2012 
T.C. We’ve received some concerned tweets, emails, and comments about our whereabouts and I just wanted to drop in and ease your minds. No, we aren’t dead, haven’t been laid off, or been abducted by aliens. We are still deeply entrenched where we’ve always been. But after nearly four straight years of working on the blog with very few days away, we’ve been on a bit of a hiatus. I promise we will be back soon with what the future holds for TNI.
A Turbulent Start to the NASCAR Off-Season
We’re just a week into the NASCAR off-season and the changes are coming fast and heavy.
Layoffs Around
The shoe hasn’t dropped everywhere just yet, but so far Roush Fenway has undertaken a massive layoff that we’ve heard was as many as 125 employees. This included many long-time Roush employees. What’s loyalty worth in this sport?
Yesterday, we heard there were layoffs at Turner Motorsports with more potentially on the way. Red Bull Racing has vowed to keep its people through the end of next week, but after that many more will join the unemployment line. We’ll see if anymore follow.
Crew Chief Changes
You win the championship, so what next? How about a crew chief change? That’s what Tony Stewart did Monday, booting Darian Grubb in favor of Steve Addington. Never mind it was Grubb’s call that put Stewart in a position to win the championship, and his leadership that helped the owner-driver to 11 wins, 33 top-fives, 59 top tens and three straight Chase appearances since 2009. Who wouldn’t have made a change, right?
Up at Richard Childress Racing, longtime Roush Fenway crew chief Drew Blickensderfer replaced Luke Lambert on top of the box for Jeff Burton. Lambert took over on an interim basis after the team released Todd Berrier earlier in the season. Blickensderfer has made the rounds through RFR including most recently as David Ragan’s Cup Series crew chief.
NASCAR Fines A Busch
Fining the Busch brothers is quickly becoming a favorite past time down in Daytona. After elder brother Kurt’s profanity laced tirade to an ESPN crew, NASCAR’s $50,000 penalty was probably warranted (here is the link to the video – fair warning there is language).
NASCAR though drew a line in the sand – it’s OK to physically go after Joe Menzer, which Busch did just a couple of months ago, but do not direct profanity at Dr. Jerry Punch. In the future, Busch would be well suited to remember this simple mnemonic device: mess with Menzer, but don’t pull any Punchs.
Another handy tip would be to not attack media members, verbally or otherwise, when there are video cameras around.
What Was Your NASCAR Best and Worst from 2011?
It was a wild season that began with 20-year-old Trevor Bayne winning the Daytona 500 and ended with a wild race that made series veteran Tony Stewart the first Cup Series Champion not named Jimmie Johnson since 2005.
In the mean time: we saw 19 different winners, including five different first time winners; Kyle Busch got into trouble with NASCAR, Kevin Harvick and just about everybody else, and if you’ll remember, got punched by Richard Childress; Red Bull announced it would no longer be a NASCAR team owner; Kevin Harvick decided the same thing; Trevor Bayne got sick, and then came back; Danica Patrick decided to come to NASCAR full-time; Jimmie Johnson surged and then floundered; Tony Stewart came out of nowhere; NASCAR announced fuel injection would be coming to the sport; ratings were up while the sponsorship market was down; Roush and RCR downsized; Clint Bowyer announced his move to MWR; David Ragan, David Reutimann and Brian Vickers were left without rides for 2012, and a whole lot more.
After a rough 2010, this season and season finale will not be forgotten anytime soon. Let us know what you thought was the best moment and the worst from the last 10 months.
Before we wrap it up for the week, on behalf of TC and myself, thank you everyone for another great year! We strive, as always, to deliver to you interesting, well thought out and unique news and information. I hope we have been able to do that again this season. TC and I will be off for the next week, but we’ll be back next Monday with our plans for the off-season and beyond. A Happy (early) Thanksgiving to all!
Only 97 days until Daytona – stay tuned.
The NASCAR Week That Was: Nov. 13-19
The fight for the Championship was the biggest story of the week as Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart sat just three points apart going into Homestead. The winner will become the sport’s first new Cup champion since 2005. In other news, NASCAR issued an unannounced penalty to Brad Keselowski this week after the driver criticized the new fuel injection system. This is the NASCAR week that was, November 13 to 19, 2011.
Preliminary NASCAR TV Overview for 2012
Osborne, Grubb find themselves in spotlight
Brian France to drivers: Don’t denigrate direction of sport or quality of racing
Brad Keselowski blasts NASCAR’s switch to fuel-injection
Changes coming to RCR teams in 2012
Vintage Insiders
What Was Your NASCAR Best and Worst From 2010?
A Points Comparison: Chase vs. Old System
**Remember if you have a NASCAR blog or website and would like a recent article you wrote featured in this section email me and you could be part of next week’s NASCAR Week That Was. Please only send stuff you have written.**
Brace Yourself For The Off-Season Crew Members
The next couple of weeks will be a time for celebration in NASCAR. We’ll crown three different champions this weekend and then head to the respective banquets. It was a season of improved ratings, competition and the first Cup champion not named Jimmie Johnson since 2005.
As some celebrate next week, a lot of others will be waiting to find out if they still have a job – or trying to figure out what they’re going to do next year.
Count among those, employees at Red Bull and Kevin Harvick Inc. KHI announced earlier this year it would be closing its doors at the end of the season, shifting Nationwide teams to Richard Childress Racing. The move has potential to bring some KHI employees along, but with a team shutting down at the notoriously loyal RCR, those spots are likely to be few and far between.
And while there has been talk about investors since Red Bull announced the sale of its NASCAR team months ago, nothing has emerged. The team has said there won’t be any layoffs before December 9.
On the slate of organizations with potential layoffs coming, some have already begun preparations. We heard this week Turner Motorsports brought in security guards to begin the process when its teams return from Homestead. Other teams where lack of sponsorship could lead to downsizing include Roush Fenway, Germain and Rusty Wallace, among others.
Despite the challenges, as TC wrote a couple of months ago, there are a few bright spots around the sport.
Add to the above mentioned the long rumored return of Randy Moss Motorsports and expansion at Kyle Busch Motorsports before the beginning of next season.
This yearly ritual of layoffs has become all too familiar for a sport propped up on the backs of countless nameless faces. Employees are commodities to be exchanged and discarded, and they often are. Let’s hope this off-season is not quite as brutal as the one we’ve been bracing for.
So, as the season closes out and we celebrate the final lap, be thinking about those who find themselves in a familiar position for many Americans – out of work.
Two Teams In The Seat We All Strive For
Do you remember when you were a little kid in your backyard playing whiffle ball with your buddies? You always pretended it was the bottom of the ninth in game seven of the World Series. There were two outs, the bases were loaded, and your team was down three runs. You strode to the plate needing to hit a grand slam to win the game. And amazingly, you always did it. Looking back now, do you know why we fantasized about situations like this? Because everyone wants to be that clutch player. Everyone wants to make the big play that leads to their team winning it all. This weekend in Homestead, two teams of guys will get this chance.
With only three points separating Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart, any slight slip could cost one side the title. A bolt left loose by a mechanic, a bad call on an adjustment by the crew chief, or a one bad pit stop could mean the difference between celebrating or being the first loser.
But if you are really a true competitor, you want this pressure. You hope and pray for this pressure. You want to be the guy who makes the clutch play that leads to your team winning. There is absolutely no sweeter way to win.
You can be sure that heading into Sunday’s finale, both drivers will be on their games. Edwards and Ford have a history of running very well at Homestead, and Stewart is on one of the strongest Chase runs we’ve ever seen. It would not surprise me if it took one of these drivers winning the race for them to take down the title. Hopefully the battle goes all the way to the final laps.
As I sit here writing this post, my only hope for the weekend is that both sides leave it all on the field (or track). I hope neither side makes a mistake and that the title comes down to the steering wheel holders battling it out over the final laps. That’s why we all watch anyway.
Ask The Insiders Wednesday #152
The end is near. All three series will close out their 2011 seasons this weekend at Homestead. The Truck and Nationwide battles are all but sewed up, but we’ve got one hell of fight for the Cup title. As we wait to find out who will be crowned, we’ve got the 152nd round of reader questions and our answers. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send one to us. On to the questions…
1. From Joe:
David Ragan is a very nice guy. Do u think Mars could sponsor D Ragan? David Reuti is rather nice. Do u think it would be wise for a candy company to sponsor an ADD driver? Matt Kenseth is just non-controversial. Do U think Mars could sponsor Kenseth if this years’ sponsor is an alcohol company?
I think Joe Gibbs will do whatever it takes to keep Mars around – whatever that may mean. I will say though you can bet with blood in the water other teams are circling. – Journo
2. From Chris:
Will JR Motorsports Field a 3rd Team in the Nationwide Series in 2012 for the Drivers who Filled in for Danica Patrick in 2010 & 2011 While She was Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series?
It all depends on sponsorship. I’m sure if they had some companies interested they would, but they won’t run a third car without backing. – T.C.
3. From Bob:
Have asked and most dont know yet but Danica being PT and a new car for SHR, will she have to qualify on time next yr, as Daytona may be Ok, but the short tracks will be a problem for her if she has to?
They could conceivably buy points that would give her a guaranteed spot but it would only last for the first five weeks. With her running a very limited schedule that doesn’t really make a ton of sense. I guess we’ll see how important her having a guaranteed spot for Daytona is. – Journo
4. From Jason:
Hi guys, I have been wondering with the the old fuel systems on the cup cars the fuel pump was cable driven to prevent fuel from going to the engine in case of a crash. how did nascar resolve the problem with the new efi system that will be used next year?? Since efi has a electric fuel pump if there is a crash and the engine stops running there will be still power going to the pump a fuel will still be sent to the engine, causing the risk of engine fire.
I don’t know for absolute certainty, but I believe they will use electric fuel pumps. In the event of a crash, there are sensors that can be used to shut the fuel pump down if the engine stops. If electric fuel pumps can be used safely in street cars, I’m sure they will be fine in NASCAR. – T.C.
5. From John:
Is Joe Gibbs going to fire Kyle Busch? He got just what he deserved. NASCAR should have banned him from ever racing anywhere.
Anything’s possible – I think at this point it’s wholly dependent upon the sponsorship situation for the team. If Mars comes back and Kyle can behave himself there is little reason to not keep him around. We’ll see. – Journo
6. From Michael in SoCal:
Hi guys. Thanks for all the great posts. My question this week is about the white roofs on a couple of the Cup cars at Phoenix this week (the 14, the 11, I think the 1). Why were they white? Thanks.
I believe the white roofs were a promotion for Coca Cola and their polar bear conservation efforts. – T.C.
7. From Dennis:
Hi Guys, Great site, and I especially like the “Ask the Insiders” section, I look forward to it each week. I was surprised to see all the brake issues this weekend, especially as teams are usually pretty prepared at tracks like Martinsville. Was this a surprise due to track reconfiguration and drivers having to drive the track different? And it seems they would have noticed some fall off from all the practice laps they ran, or did the track change that much from practice and race conditions to cause a major change in braking conditions. Any insight would be great. Thanks.
The speeds at Phoenix were much faster with the new configuration, and even with testing and practice sessions it’s tough to predict everything. That’s why some teams struggled with things like brakes. Also, the track conditions changed drastically from Saturday to Sunday with the rain. – T.C.
8. From Michael in SoCal:
Another question guys – why wasn’t Cole Witt’s 84 not done up in the Red Bull regalia for his Cup series debut?
I’m not sure what the answer is to this one. It was a full Red Bull effort, so I don’t know why they wouldn’t decal it up. Maybe the move was more of a Jay Frye call than a Red Bull call. Or maybe they didn’t feel it was worth it to spend time stickering the car for a one-off effort. I did hear they had decals in their hauler ready to use. – T.C.
9. From Brandon:
I have a question pertaining to Cole Whitt racing at Phoenix. I thought he had a really decent run at Phoenix and thought it was nice that Red Bull got him out there and got him the experience, but I was more than a little perplexed why he was driving a sponsorless car. If Team Red Bull was putting them out there why wouldn’t they have slapped their logo’s all over the car?
See the answer above to question number eight. – T.C.
10. From Karl:
We watched the “post race” coverage after Phoenix hoping for some dirt on the 17/83 deal…..Noticed the inspectors were on Kahne’s car-showed the carb coming off-also noticed the 48 looked to be in process of post race engine inspection as well. Do they still have a mandatory engine check on winner and was the 48 the chevy “selected” to be checked? As always thanks and enjoy your site/words.
Yes, they still take the winner’s car and engine back to the R&D center in Concord, NC. And after the debacle in Talladega where Chad Knaus told Johnson to wreck the car if they won, NASCAR decided to make the #48 the “random” for the remainder of the year. – T.C.
11. From Andrew:
I’ve been a long time fan (since 1982) of Nascar and you guys a lot of times teach me a few new things. Thanks. My question is this. How can you tell if a driver is good or not when a lot of it has to do with the team or equipment they’re in? How can an average fan tell if somebody is really good or just has a good car and team?
Honestly, that’s the $25 million question. There really is no sure fire way to tell. You look for consistency, flashes of brilliance, a history of success at different levels, and things like performance under pressure. You hope all those come together to form the next best thing. – Journo
12. From Eddo:
With all the hub-bub about Kyle Busch lately, what do you insiders view his stock as? If Gibbs were to turn him loose, do you think there are other top teams that would take a chance on him? He has a ton of talent and drive, and is good for wins- but is he too toxic for big name sponsors to want him? Thanks!
I think someone would inevitably take a chance on him – at this point though you’re talking about a second tier team. Gibbs, Hendrick, RCR and Roush would obviously be out of the question for their varied histories with Kyle. Penske RPM and EGR could conceivably be options. I think all of that depends though on how able those teams feel they would be to find sponsorship. – Journo
And that brings yet another “Ask The Insiders Wednesday” to a close. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. And remember, if you’d like to be a part of next week, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send your question in!
Busch’s Sponsors Exercise Influence
Take note of this past week – it was one of the more interesting ones I think we’ve seen in a long time. Championship hopes dashed. A driver suspended. A championship team owner put in a bad spot. And sponsors very publicly exercising their influence. It was a strange mix of expectation and surprise.
With all that, Kyle Busch stood at the precipice last week – a result of his own behavior and the reaction of his sponsor. Mars, the parent company of M&Ms understandably felt that Busch was no longer a good representative of its brand and let JGR know. So the rumor went this weekend, despite denials and statements to the contrary, Mars is still very angry and Busch was actually out of job until Norm Miller, the venerable chairman of Interstate Batteries, stepped in.
Busch not only found trouble with his Cup sponsor, but also Z-Line Designs in the Nationwide Series. The sponsor asked that Denny Hamlin be put in the car at Homestead instead.
Sponsors dictating week to week decisions is generally a rare occurrence. In this instance, the pressure is more akin to a driver change at the end/beginning of a contract which is not all that rare. Cingular did it at Richard Childress Racing with Robby Gordon, and UPS was rumored to have done it when they last jumped teams several years ago.
With as much money as these companies have invested in these sponsorship deals (think initial sponsorship fees, plus activation for advertising and marketing generally always tied to drivers) it’s not surprising requests or demands are made.
With the sponsorship market as soft as it is, it’s also not surprising Joe Gibbs was as angry as he was. I’m sure Mars has an out in their contract in the event of issues like this one – and losing what is likely a $17 million+ sponsor at this point in the season could be devastating. If relationships can’t be improved, booting the driver is a far better option.
From the talk around I don’t think we’ve seen the end of this. As history often shows, denials and statements of support in this sport aren’t always what they seem. I’d keep an eye out.
NASCAR Got The Chase They Wanted
And then there were two.
Following Sunday’s Cup Series race at Phoenix, only two drivers, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards, still have a shot at the title. Every other Chaser has been mathematically eliminated. As we get ready for Homestead, we are in for one hell of a battle with the two drivers we do have left. Stewart and Edwards are only separated by three points, and NASCAR has to be thrilled that the race will most likely go down to the final laps.
Since implementing the Chase for the 2004 season, NASCAR has not been afraid to make changes to it’s format. We’ve seen them add drivers, attempt to emphasize wins, and completely change how points are awarded. A season like we are currently having is what they have been chasing.
Besides the close battle, this Chase has been compelling for other reasons. First, we are witnessing the end of the greatest run in NASCAR history. Jimmie Johnson and the 48 team had a few uncharacteristic missteps, and they will not win their sixth straight title. As great as the achievement was however, it’s probably good that we’ll have a new champion.
As for Edwards and Stewart, you’ve got one driver trying to win his first ever championship, and the other trying to win his first with his own team. There is certainly not a lack of motivation for either driver. Both have large followings, and either will be a popular champion.
I hope you’re ready, because Homestead will be wild.
Phoenix Pit Road Issues
For the second straight season we’ve seen an entire pit crew replaced mid-race. On Sunday, AJ Allmendinger’s crew struggled on two stops while he was running towards the front, and they were swapped for the #6 team of David Ragan. Richard Petty Motorsports and Roush Fenway have a close relationship, and the change was made because Ragan was wrecked early in the race.
You hate to see this happen to anyone, because it can be very demoralizing. But we work in a performance driven business, and you can be sure they will replace you if you can’t get it done. In this case though, the guy behind the wheel was a major factor in the change. Allmendinger doesn’t have the best reputation, and is known for blowing up when things don’t go his way. RPM made the move to keep him in the race and fighting. Moving forward, don’t expect this swap to be permanent.
Something else I wanted to touch on before I get out of here was the new pit road at Phoenix. As a part of the reconfiguration, PIR was given a new pit road. The old one had some quirks, and a face lift was certainly warranted. But in re-doing it, they may have actually made it worse. The pit stalls themselves are concrete, and the finish they put on them is not good. Similar to Las Vegas’ pit stalls, the brushed finish on the concrete is too fine. The result is an extremely slick surface and a difficult environment in which to work. Stops were visibly slower on Saturday and Sunday, and the surface played a big roll. There were also several crew members who slipped and fell. In the future, tracks need to do a better job finding out what works and doesn’t work for us. What we do is dangerous enough, and the injury potential is much higher now at Phoenix.
The NASCAR Week That Was: Nov. 6-12
Kyle Busch was talk of the week after last weekend’s suspension. On Monday, NASCAR fined the driver $50,000 and put him on probation through the end of the year. Busch’s sponsor Mars opted after the incident to pull sponsorship for the remainder of the season. Busch was also pulled from the remaining Nationwide races after sponsor Z-Line Design requested Denny Hamlin be in the car. Team owner Joe Gibbs said additional sanctions from the team were forthcoming. This is the NASCAR week that was, November 6 to 12, 2011.
Attendance declines leveling off at NASCAR Hall of Fame
Kyle Busch facing JGR sanctions
What a lap around the reconfigured Phoenix track is like
A successful RFR isn’t immune to sponsor woes
Vintage Insiders
Kyle Busch. The Yellow Line. And NASCAR’s Correct Call
**Remember if you have a NASCAR blog or website and would like a recent article you wrote featured in this section email me and you could be part of next week’s NASCAR Week That Was. Please only send stuff you have written.**
