The end of the NASCAR offseason draws ever closer, but to tide you over until Daytona arrives, we’ve got more reader questions and 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 Ric:
How much accuracy do you have in tire pressure?
Most digital tire pressure gauges read pressures to the tenth of a pound. From there, it is about how accurate your gauge is. - T.C.
2. From Marc:
Happy New Year! Has there been any more talk about the disposition of the two “orphan” teams, the 26 from Roush and one of the Petty/Yates teams? I realize that NASCAR has to approve of any sale and nixed DEI selling their fifth team after buying Ginn, but they did let Teresa Earnhardt use the #15 points to enter Front Row’s #34 last year. Could another such deal be in the works for, say, the new Fords of #37 being “owned” by Max Jones, or will the two teams just disappear, allowing the 82 and 71 in the top 35 (and the 09 if the 07 disappears after Daytona)?
Good timing. Jayski’s reporting a Vermont businessman is buying the #26 equipment from Roush. I honestly haven’t heard anything about this deal, but it’s my understanding from the way NASCAR has done things in the past that they won’t be allowed to sell owner points. The problem arises because the past team owner would be listed as the owner. As Jack Roush already has four teams he can’t be listed as an owner on another car (this would be the same issue for RPM). This is very similar to the DEI-Ginn points situation (they would have exceeded the car limit). NASCAR allowed DEI to sell the points to RCR and Front Row last year because they didn’t exceed the car limit. You’ll notice Teresa Earnhardt is listed as the owner on the #34 and Bobby Ginn as owner of the #33. If NASCAR operates like they did in the past I would expect the points to disappear. Richard Childress though would be allowed to sell his points if he so chooses.- Journo
3. From Jeff:
My question is about car numbers. Back in 1993, Petty Enterprises ran the 44 instead of the 43, but the next year, they went back to the 43. If I remember correctly, this was because NASCAR told them that if they did not use the 43, it could be assigned to another team. Am I right or wrong about this, and if that is the case, why haven’t they done the same with the number 3?
NASCAR holds all the rights to the numbers. No one technically owns any number. So if NASCAR wanted to, they could giveaway the #3. Would they do that? No. This is a courtesy to both Richard Childress and the Earnhardt family. Should Richard Childress decide he wanted to use it, he would certainly be allowed to. There isn’t a shortage of numbers so there really is no reason why NASCAR would allow someone to use the #3. – Journo
4. From Lyn:
Hey, after reading the last column, it seems as if you still have some hope for Reed Sorenson to do well. Is this true? Personally I think he has all the talent in the world, he was just thrust into Cup way to fast with a team that couldn’t provide quality equipment, even RPM couldn’t do that.
While I think Reed was pushed too fast into Cup, my confidence in his abilities are not great. Reed has had opportunities at decent teams, and just hasn’t done anything. His average finish actually got worse every year he was at Ganassi. At RPM he had even fewer excuses because AJ Allmendinger, Elliott Sadler and Kasey Kahne all out-performed him. Kasey Kahne even won two races in 2009 and participated in the Chase. I think the Nationwide Series is a good place for Reed. He’s always been competitive there. Maybe he’ll be ready at some point to give the Cup Series another try, but I don’t think he’s got it right now. – Journo
5. From Dennis M:
When will NASCAR wake up and shorten the caution periods for minor incidents like debris? We see the debris, we watch them pick it up and then we watch five to seven more laps of yellow flag parade. It would be a lot more interesting if you had to take your chances with a pit stop instead of knowing you had a yellow flag for X number of laps. Pick up the debris and put the green out!
With the rules the way they are, caution periods last a little longer because of pit stops, the lucky dog, and the wave around rules. I think NASCAR tries to use “quicky yellows” as often as they can, but sometimes cleanup crews need more time. With that said, don’t expect to see any changes here any time soon. NASCAR is always going to take as much time as they see fit to make sure the racing surface is as safe as possible. – T.C.
6. From Brian:
Here’s my question for Ask The Insiders: Does NASCAR require that a Cup team have a pit crew when they show up at the track? Can you qualify and start the race without a crew? Can you keep racing without a crew?
NASCAR doesn’t require teams to have a crew. In fact next time you’re at a race look for the start and park teams on pit road; they usually have one or two guys in the pit. You could keep racing without a crew but you’re going to have trouble when you need fuel or tires. The point of a pit crew is to service the car and do it quickly. Without one you can neither service the car nor do it quickly. – Journo
7. From Jerry:
Guys I responded to your question a few weeks ago about changes NASCAR should make. One of the things I said was get rid of the wing. Lee Spencer is reporting today that it looks like that is a change coming by Bristol. What do you think?
I’m taking a wait and see attitude with this one. I haven’t really talked to anybody about this one yet and I don’t know enough about aerodynamics to know how this will affect the COT. I’m also not sure if this is the magic bullet that will fix the “bad” racing everyone has complained about. What I do know, is that this change will cost teams thousands of dollars, because all of their old data will become useless when this change is made. - T.C.
8. From Anonymous:
Was reading an article that the rear wing will be replaced with the spoiler. Have you seen this change implemented yet? Now to get rid of the splitter and a more aesthetic nose! Enough of the off season. Come on Speed Weeks 2010!!!
I have yet to see a car with a spoiler on it yet. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time though. The teams won’t make any major changes to their fleets until they know for sure the change is coming. – T.C.
9. From Kevin:
Hi Guys, I have a couple of questions about RWR. Do Rusty’s long term plans include going to the Cup Series? Also, do you guys expect they will see great improvement with the switch to Toyota/JGR? Also, how much longer/how many cars will little Rusty get to wreck? That would be a good bet this year!! I know some people hate Rusty, and he can be a jerk sometimes, but I hope he has success b/c the sport needs owners like him.
I honestly don’t know what their long term plans currently are. There has been talk over the years about them going to the Cup Series, but like all things that takes money. It’ll be interesting to see how the JGR program works this time. Remember Hall of Fame had a technical alliance with Gibbs a couple of seasons ago and that didn’t turn out well. I think some changes have been made from that initial program though, so it might be a good thing. I know Rusty would like to see Steve in the Cup Series, so they’re in this for the long haul. – 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!
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on Jan 13th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Regarding the owner points situation, I think that there is great confusion over how the rule is interpreted, especially since it changes based on what NASCAR wants to do. In Homestead, the owners listed on the RFR cars were: John Henry, #6 & #17; Jack Roush, #16 & #99; Geoff Smith, #26. Roush-Fenway is reducing from 5 cars to 4, but Jack Roush still “owns” only 2. With the sale of the 26’s points, I’m guessing that Geoff Smith will be listed as the owner of the car. RPM has 3 cars with George Gilette, Jr. listed as the owner, 1 with Richard Petty, and with the addition of Yates, 1 with Max Jones. No one person will own more than 4, even if the points are sold.
The DEI-Ginn merger occurred during the middle of the season. This is probably where the confusion of transferring owner points comes in. NASCAR probably didn’t want a team buying their way into the top 35 in the middle of the season. NASCAR doesn’t seem to have a problem with that practice during the off season.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 9:42 am
#6: Hey Journo. Ask Morgan Shepherd if you can pit a car without a pit crew!!!! Of course you can! Two tire stop & ate a bag of chips to boot!! Heeeeelarious.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 10:02 am
I don’t agree with you about Reed Sorenson. I am a big fan of Reed since he started in Nascar and he knows how to drive a car.Put Reed with a good team and a good car and he will show you what he can do. Ganassi and RPM were not good teams and they do not have good cars.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 10:52 am
Re: #9
I know Rusty would like to see his son in Cup, however Steve just isn’t ready to mix it up with those guys. He seems to put himself in bad positions, hence the wrecks. If he can’t drive the Nationwide cars, the Cup cars will be impossible as they are much more difficult. I guess if they are going to stick with the new car, it should be in the lower series so the drivers can learn them.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 11:02 am
RE Brian #6-I remember listening to the 2nd Cup race from Pocono last year and the car of Mike Wallace was given the black flag about ten laps into the race because he didn’t have a pit crew according to NASACAR officials. He is listed as “parked” on lap 13 and took his $65,000 home for a tough 13 lap days work.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Neon: NASCAR wants the start and park teams to at least have a tool box in their pit, and usually a couple of guys in firesuits. But those guys in firesuits are not a pit crew, as they are usually just a few of the team’s mechanics. I’d have to check my rule book to see if there is an actual pit crew rule, but I’m not sure if there is.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Regarding question #6, I recall several years ago during our last start-and-park era (I want to say between 2001 and 2003 but I’m not sure) that the #09 car with Joe Ruttman driving was black-flagged and parked in a race at Rockingham as soon as NASCAR realized the team didn’t have a pit crew. How could they have penalized that team if it’s not a rule? Or has something changed since then?
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Kevin, you are exactly right. There was no pit crew and he was black flagged and parked. I think he was driving the 09 Finch car.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
It warms my heart to hear that about the 3 number, then it saddens my heart, again : (
I did not know that about car numbers, but I am glad to hear that they have the class to allow the 3 to not be used, until such time as maybe it is appropriate.
This is why I read here, there is no tellin what I will learn, thx : )
Be sure to give us an update on the pit crew issue, that is interesting. I would think that NASCAR lwould ook VERY dimmly on the start/parkers, unless they only let their “pets” get away with this crap.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I thought that the rule was that you had to have a crew chief.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Melissa- That in the past has not mattered. They could have Sparky Roush listed as the owner and it didn’t/shouldn’t/wouldn’t matter. Roush Fenway is still technically the owner of the cars and of the owner points, and that is the way NASCAR has looked at it. While the timing is a little different, this is a similar issue to the Ginn/DEI one. It didn’t matter Bobby Ginn was listed as the owner, or Teresa Earnhardt – those points were the property of that new DEI team. Like a lot of things with NASCAR though they are free and ready to change precedent at the drop of the hat. It appears this has become one of those situations. As we say it’s their ballgame.
Rick- Take a look at Reed’s numbers compared to his teammates. It’s hard to make the argument at the very least that RPM was not a better situation. Kasey Kahne had two wins, and made the Chase. There was no difference in Reed’s equipment compared to Kasey’s (it all comes from the same place and is built side by side). He was outperformed by all of his teammates at RPM and as I said in the post, actually got worse while he was at Ganassi. Reed is a nice kid, but like I said in the post, the Cup Series isn’t where he should be.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Don’t agree #11 with that. thare was a big difference in equipment. You can’t sit there and tell me there’s not. Casey has Bud so we have to give him more help and better equipment. Elliot was going to sue them for a contract so lets don’t get him mad and everybody knows that AJ is George Gilette’s little boy toy and yes we will have to help him so Reed got stuck with the bad equipment. RPM is a washed up team and the only thing they have is Richard’s name and it’s time for them to get out of racing.
on Jan 13th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Rick- Individual teams do not have individual budgets. They aren’t run like independent entities. I’ve heard this argument so many times, and I can’t stress to you how untrue this is at any organization. Teams are not massive bureaucracies – it’s inefficient and illogical for such a small business. I understand the fan loyalty thing, but come on. Why would George Gillett or Chip Ganassi want to see Reed Sorenson fail (or rather why would they set him up to fail)? They have sponsors to answer to, and a bottom line they’re concerned with. They want Reed to succeed just like you do. The fact is he didn’t and he was booted from the rides. Again RPM had two wins and one driver in the Chase. That’s more than a lot of teams can say.
on Jan 14th, 2010 at 10:22 am
“Again RPM had two wins and one driver in the Chase. That’s more than a lot of teams can say.”
RCR pops to mind immediately. I don’t think any of his drivers last year were jealous of eachother’s equipment.
on Jan 17th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
I just wanted to follow up on the pit crew situation. I looked through my rule book, and cannot find a rule or section that says a team must have a crew. This just may be one of those rules that NASCAR doesn’t publish…