The people have spoken!  During last week’s post, I gave you (the readers) the opportunity to let us know if you thought we should continue doing these question and answer posts.  The answer was a very resounding yes.   As I’m writing this post, we’ve had 80 votes: 76 yes, 4 I don’t care, and 0 no votes.  So until further notice, we will be answering any and all 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 Eric:

If you could take one or a couple of rules that other racing leagues (Indy, Sprint Car, F1, heck even swamp buggy) utilize and institute it in Nascar, what would they be? I personally would like to see field inversions like they do in sprint cars.

I know this is going to sound like a cop out, but I honestly can not think of a thing. TC and I discussed it and I have had this question in my mind all week and there is nothing that is hitting me. I don’t really like field inversions in this case, and I am not a fan of IRL pit stops for instance. Certainly NASCAR is not perfect though. You’ve stumped me. – Journo

2. From Newracefan:

What do you think of the recent points buying for top 35 spots.  Right now it looks like the poor 47 who was thinking all off season they would be in are going to be outside the top 35.

I don’t necessarily see any problems with it right now. I think the ownership deal is ridiculous though. As David Poole said, does anyone really think Bobby Ginn owns the #33? I don’t think so. My argument for it being good right now is that it helps obtain and retain sponsors when they know you are secure at least for a while. While I don’t think NASCAR should make it easier, because that is not fair, I don’t think it is a terrible thing at this moment (that’s not to say I would feel the same given different circumstances). – Journo

3. From Sean:

In one of your blogs a while back, you mentioned Junior’s fitness level and I have heard him say on more than one occasion that he thinks the races should be shorter. Now I’m wondering if maybe the problem he had in the later part of races in 2008 is not so much that Tony Jr. wasn’t keeping up with the track changes but rather that Junior was too tired to maintain the necessary intensity to the end of the race?

I think Jr’s main point with making races shorter is that it would make them a little easier to watch for the casual fan. Staying focused for four or five hours is not an easy thing and lets be honest, races can get boring. As far as his not maintaining his position late in the race, I think you can attribute that to several things. I don’t necessarily think it is because he is out of shape though. – Journo

4. From Chris:

Are Michael Waltrip and Buffy getting a divorce?

We have certainly been getting a lot of traffic to our Michael Waltrip post this week. Unfortunately one of our rules around here is that we won’t talk about anyone’s personal life. Honestly it really is none of my business. – Journo

5. From Mike:

I love your website, and am glad to feature it in our columns in the Stock Car Gazette.  I do have a question.  Do you know why “beta blockers” were included in the recent NASCAR drug tests?  My understanding of those types of drugs is that they are used for blood pressure and cardiac regulation.  Is there an abuse of beta blockers going on, or was NASCAR checking for those for some other reason?

On the surface, this one doesn’t make sense.  But some quick research on Wikipedia gave me this: “The physiological symptoms of the fight/flight response associated with performance anxiety and panic are significantly reduced, thus enabling anxious individuals to concentrate on the task at hand… Since they lower heart rate and reduce tremor, beta blockers have been used by some Olympic marksmen to enhance performance, though beta blockers are banned by the International Olympic Committee.”  It sounds like they could help guys stay calm over the wall… - T.C.

6. From Preston:

What happens to the old lugnuts during a pit stop? It seems to me this is a hazard when the car spins out of the box turning the lugnuts into flying bullets.

The lugnuts lying on the ground do become projectiles.  The catch can guys usually get it the worst because they are in the line of fire, but I have been hit before.  If you get hit in the right places, it can definitely get your attention. – T.C.

7.  From Grover:

For TC, excluding Lowes what is the track you enjoy going to the most?  And why?

I’m not really sure why you are excluding Lowes, but with or without the exclusion, my answer is Bristol.  There is nothing like a Saturday night shootout under the lights at Bristol.  You’ve got 150,000 people right on top of the race, and there is never a shortage of action.  And the infield has got to be one of the loudest places on earth.  It’s great.  – T.C.

8. From Susie:

Hey TC – I’m Susie from the Rowdy.com website.  I’ve gotta question for ya.  Are the Cup cars running any kind of modified roof profile this season???  On the radio show I listen to, there were some callers who insisted that the roof profile of the cars looked “more rounded.”  I didn’t notice…and I wanted to know if they’ve changed templates on the cars (I never heard they did).  If you haven any information, let me know.  I’ll go on the radio and tell ‘em TNI told me so!!!  I need to mention you guys more often…love your stuff!  My Best, Susie

Except for the slightly modified Dodge nose, there were no significant changes to the COT this season.  NASCAR has stated very adamantly that they would not make any rule changes this season in regards to the COT in order to help save the teams money, especially with no testing.  So the more rounded roof isn’t possible.  Dustin Long from the Roanoke Times wrote a piece about it a while back. – T.C.

9. From Geo:

Why is it NASCAR web site no longer provides team owner information for the past year as well as the current 09 season ? Use to give car owner points info etc updated weekly.  Thanks, Boo.

That is a good question, I honestly do not know. I was able to find the owners points for last season here by doing a google search. It is weird though they don’t have it accessible from the main menus. What you should do is get in contact with someone over at NASCAR.com. Perhaps if they knew people were interested they would make it more prominent. – Journo

10. From Patrick:

Taking David Ragan’s busted up #6 from the Shootout as an example, how much of that car – and specifically which major parts (if working) – would get recycled into another Roush Fenway Ford?

Teams will always try and salvage as much as possible from one of these wrecks.  In the case of the #6 car, most of the car from the firewall back can be salvaged.  Some sheet metal will need to be replaced on the rear, much of the suspension might be junk, and the interior will probably be replaced, but everything else should be good.  The engine might be questionable as well.  What they will do is take the car back to the shop, cut the frame at the firewall, and put on a new front “clip.”  Then it will be ready to be put back into rotation. - T.C.

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!

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