As we near the end of the season, and what some are already predicting could be a fourth straight championship for Jimmie Johnson, it seems the negative feelings toward driver 48 are growing. Some have even hinted that Johnson’s dominance is to blame for the decline in ratings and attendance recently. The argument is that [...]
Archive for October, 2009
The Jimmie Johnson Issue
October 19th, 2009 
T.C. 
Posted in NASCAR News, Racing Observations 
Tags: 48, attendance, Chad Knaus, Championship, Chase, Cup Series, dominance, Jimmie Johnson, Martinsville, ratings, Sprint Cup 
49 Comments »It’s Always Good To Come Home
October 18th, 2009 T.C. In other sports, home games happen just as often as away games. But racing is different. We spend almost the entire season at away games. The sport as a whole only gets two home weekends a year; the 600 weekend in May and the October night race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Both offer a welcome respite from the usual grind of [...]
Posted in NASCAR at the Track, Over The Wall, Racing Observations Tags: Bruton Smith, charlotte, coke 600, Concord, Home, Humpy Wheeler, Lowes Motor Speedway, May, Memorial Day, October 2 Comments »The NASCAR Week That Was: Oct. 11-17
October 18th, 2009 Journo As NASCAR rolls into Charlotte for the second time this season, the new Hall of Fame led the news this week. The sport’s legends, dignitaries and media members came together on Wednesday to decide the Hall’s first five inductees. The group, along with input from a fan vote, selected Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., [...]
Why Not Try a Lower Series?
October 15th, 2009 Journo As NASCAR has struggled through the last year, and teams have closed up shop leaving drivers without a ride, I had to ask myself why more out of work drivers didn’t make the jump to a lower series? At the risk of alienating people, I’ll refrain from specifically naming any drivers I think could stand [...]
Posted in Miscellaneous Tags: Almirola, EGR, jack sprague, Johnny Sauter, mike skinner, RCR, ron hornaday, Ted Musgrave 12 Comments »Teams Need To Let Young Pit Crew Guys Make Mistakes
October 14th, 2009 T.C. I’m going to go on a rant here, so I apologize in advance, but this is something that has bothered me since I started as a tire changer. When young guys finally get their first opportunities to jack, carry, and change they usually end up on Truck Series and some of the smaller Nationwide Series [...]
Posted in Over The Wall Tags: confidence, Crew Chief, experience, jackman, mistakes, pit crew, pit stops, tire carrier, Tire Changer 5 Comments »Ask The Insiders Wednesday #45
October 13th, 2009 T.C. It’s a home game this week, as both the Nationwide and Cup cars take to the 1.5 mile Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord. But while the season starts winding to a close, ATIW keeps chugging along. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions [...]
Juan Pablo Montoya And A Lesson In How Not To Behave During A Press Conference
October 12th, 2009 Journo If you follow us on twitter, you may have seen me point this out over the weekend (NASCAR Scene writer Jeff Gluck beat me to the punch with a post about this incident on his blog). During the regular press availability for the Chase contenders this weekend Juan Pablo Montoya got a surprise scolding from [...]
Crew Guys Need More Exposure
October 11th, 2009 T.C. This post may end up sounding self serving, but hear me out first. I think it’s time that NASCAR and the media partners start putting more of the spotlight on the faces behind the drivers. If the fans knew some of the people that work in the garage, shop, and on pit road every week, I think it [...]
Posted in In the Shop, Over The Wall, Racing Observations, The Business of NASCAR Tags: car chief, crew, Crew Chief, crew members, Dennis Terry, DJ Copp, exposure, helmet cam, media, NASCAR, pit crew, tv 18 Comments »The NASCAR Week That Was: Oct. 4-10
October 10th, 2009 Journo Is there a new wave of F1 drivers looking to enter NASCAR? It appears at least some are interested as news this week confirmed that Nelson Piquet Jr., Jarno Trulli and Mika Salo are all testing with existing organizations before the end of the season. In business news, Motorsports Authentics may be on the verge [...]
Chase Drivers Shouldn’t Get Special Treatment
October 9th, 2009 T.C. Following NASCAR’s warning of Brad Keselowski last weekend at Kansas to take it easy around the Chase drivers, some fans have expressed their displeasure to us this week with NASCAR’s call. I even heard some angry calls into radio shows regarding the subject. A few in the media have also reacted to the situation, including [...]
Posted in NASCAR News, Racing Observations Tags: Bob Pockrass, Brad Keselowski, Championship, Chase, Chasers, Cup, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Fans, Jamie McMurray, NASCAR 17 Comments »