Why Danica’s Success, Or Lack Thereof, Might Not Matter

December 18th, 2012 T.C. 16 comments

There have been several times over the last two months that I’ve started writing a post about Danica Patrick and her prospects for the future. Once, I even wrote a full post before deleting it after a conversation with Journo on it’s content. I, like many, believe she is no where near ready to jump into a full Cup schedule. And I find it extremely difficult to believe she will ever have what I would consider a successful career. But the more I’ve thought about her situation, the more I wonder if maybe it doesn’t matter.

Toward the end of the season, in both the Nationwide and Cup cars, I thought Danica showed some measure of improvement. She stopped wrecking Dale Jr’s NNS cars, and her Cup results showed us there is some hope that she could be more than just a back marker next season. Whether it was because of the crew chief changes, or actual personal progress, at least she showed us something. Even so, I don’t believe Danica will ever be a real contender for wins and championships.

I believe there is this feeling out there that at some point Danica will break out and that all the hype surrounding her all of these years will somehow be justified. The mainstream media is just waiting for the moment when they can celebrate her achievements. This is a fool’s errand.

This constant anticipation of success is very similar to what we saw in her IndyCar days. Each new season that approached was trumpeted as “Danica’s year.” But she was never able to live up to the expectations. Even while her teammates were winning races, she never managed more than average results. Her foray into NASCAR won’t be any different.

Why it doesn’t matter though, is because at the end of the day, Danica is good for NASCAR. As long as she can put together respectable runs, I don’t believe her marketability and attractiveness to sponsors will dwindle. The media will continue trumpeting her because she is an oddity, and when she does have better than mediocre performances, NASCAR will gain even more exposure.

In a perfect world, I would much rather that when the green flag flew on Sundays, we were witnessing the top 43 drivers the sport could find. The world isn’t perfect though, and in this universe I would much rather have the most funded cars possible. It means a healthier sport and more families supported by racing jobs. And if it means watching Danica never run better than 15th each week, I’m okay with that.

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Some Advice For Christmas

October 17th, 2012 T.C. 6 comments

There was an article in the Charlotte Observer last week about a woman named Christmas Abbott who is attempting to become a tire changer. She’s being supported in her effort by Turner Motorsports and is being coached by veteran jackman and coach Shaun Peet and the guys at Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR and Turner have a pit crew relationship). As someone who’s been down the road Christmas is about to start down, I wanted to offer up some unsolicited advice.

Just to give you some idea of where Christmas is starting, she’s already got the physical fitness part down. She co-owns a Crossfit gym, and is in insane shape (search YouTube for Crossfit and you’ll see it’s not a joke). So it would seem we don’t need to worry about her strength or work ethic.

My biggest concern for her future is her completely unrealistic expectations. In Scott Fowler’s article, Christmas says she hopes to be at the Cup level by 2014. I appreciate that she wants to set the bar high, but it would take a miracle for her to go from not having pitted a car in a race at any level, to the highest level of the sport in less than two years.

If she really wants to make it, she needs to acknowledge that getting to Cup is going to take time. Much of what she needs to learn to be successful can only be learned under fire, at the track. And each time she steps up to a new series, there will be new challenges to overcome. A more realistic timeline would see her trying to make the Cup Series by 2015 or 2016.

Something else that her and the people at Turner who are aiding her need to understand is that pit crew guys aren’t like drivers. If you are a driver lacking talent, a large enough bankroll will get you opportunities you don’t deserve. The same isn’t true for crew guys. You might convince somebody to give you a shot at a level you aren’t ready for, but if you don’t perform, you won’t last long. You can rush a driver to Cup like we have seen so many times before, but you can’t do it with pit crews. Pitting race cars is still a performance based business, and if you can’t get it done, they’ll find somebody who can, man or woman.

There are other things in Scott Fowler’s article that concern me, like seeing the phrases “reality show” and “marketing gold mine.” Is Christmas attempting this because of these opportunities, or are these opportunities arising because of what she is attempting? Hopefully it’s the latter. The odds are already stacked against her, and not doing this for the right reasons will only make her chances for success smaller.

If a woman is going to make it as a tire changer at the highest levels of NASCAR, it would seem that Christmas has as good a chance as any. Hopefully Peet and the guys at Waltrip can keep her focus away from the PR junk and on what its going to take to be successful.

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Reminder Of What It’s Like Being A Race Fan

October 11th, 2012 T.C. 20 comments

When you spend your weekends pitting race cars all across the country, you end up talking to a lot of race fans. With the drivers so busy with appearances and the like, the crews have become the next best attraction. The conversations are often short and usually consist of the same basic questions. How do the lug nuts stay on the wheel? What’s the colored tape on the tires for? How much does a tire weigh? But a recent extended conversation with a fan brought me right back to my own days as a race fan.

Working in the sport for an extended period of time changes one’s perspective. It certainly has changed mine. There is a ton of drama and bulls**t that we all deal with on a daily basis and it’s easy to get caught up in it. It’s not hard to allow some cynicism to sneak into your outlook. Sometimes we could all use a reminder about what exactly it is we do as a career.

For the sake of anonymity I won’t reveal a ton about the fan or our conversation. But I will say that we spent a good deal of time talking about this person’s first experience in the infield and what it was like collecting hero cards, strolling through the garage area, watching qualifying from pit road, and chasing down drivers for photos and autographs.

This person’s enthusiasm for the sport was on display and it reminded me of how excited I once was to do many of the same things. I’m not the same kind of fan of NASCAR that I once was, but my passion for the sport is probably deeper now than it’s ever been.

Like those of you that (still) read this blog, I long to be at the race track. During the week when I’m not there I’m occupied by what I need to do the next time I am. And when we roll into Homestead in a few weeks, I will be completely heart-broken that I’ll have to wait three months before my next trip to the track.

I know we’ve done a crappy job with the blog this season, and for that I apologize. After four years of nearly daily posting, both myself and my partner were flat burned out. We talked at length on several occasions about how to keep the site going, but in the end it was easier to just not do anything. I can’t make any promises about what will happen going forward, but I will say that I’ve got ideas for a couple of posts that you will see in the next few days.

As for my conversation with the race fan, all I can say is thanks. The perspective helped me more than you will know.

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Why The Dodge Deal Isn’t Done Yet

July 23rd, 2012 T.C. 23 comments

One of the biggest Silly Season moves that we are waiting to hear a resolution for is  just where Dodge will end up. Since it was announced that Penske would be moving to Ford for the 2013 season, there have been a ton of rumors and speculation, but no real solid information. And the reason why we haven’t heard anything substantive, is because this is a very complicated deal with so many moving parts.

The major problem Dodge is running into with the available pool of teams is a lack of infrastructure. As NASCAR teams have consolidated because of the economy, the major functions of engine and car building have fallen on only a few organizations. The engines for most of NASCAR are provided by either Roush Yates, Hendrick, Earnhardt Childress, Penske, or TRD. The same is true for bodies and chassis. Only the very top teams have full-fledged, completely self-reliant operations. And the teams that have been linked to the new Dodge deal are tied in some way to other organizations.

Take Richard Petty Motorsports and Furniture Row Racing for example. Both have been mentioned as possible destinations for Dodge, but both currently lean heavily on other teams. RPM gets all it’s cars and engines from Roush Fenway, and Furniture Row Racing is tied to Richard Childress Racing for cars and technology, and Stewart-Haas for its pit crew. Neither have the legions of fabricators, body hangers, painters, and the like to be self-reliant. And where would they get engines?

The oft-rumored move by Michael Andretti to NASCAR team ownership presented an intriguing option for Dodge, but the IndyCar owner recently told the Indianapolis Star that such a move was “highly unlikely.” Even with money and support from Dodge, Andretti would need a major sponsor and a serious outlay of his own cash to get a Cup team off the ground. Running a NASCAR team is drastically more expensive than what Andretti deals with in IndyCar, as Roger Penske recently said to Sports Illustrated, and it appears Andretti isn’t ready for that yet.

Dodge is, for all intents and purposes, completely starting over. It’s the year 2000 all over again, only this time they don’t have Ray Evernham and a boat load of cash. And therein lies the major problem. The new Fiat run Dodge wants a NASCAR program, but it doesn’t have an unlimited budget to make it happen. And a significant investment is what will be needed to turn one of the available candidates into a full-blown, self-contained Cup operation.

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Allmendinger’s NASCAR Career Is Effectively Over

July 11th, 2012 T.C. 11 comments

Since we broke the news on Twitter before Saturday night’s race that A.J. Allmendinger was being replaced by Sam Hornish, the Dinger’s world has come apart. NASCAR announced he had failed a drug test, and Allmendinger has since requested the B sample be tested and admitted he tested positive for a stimulant. Penske has tabbed Hornish to again pilot the #22 Dodge this weekend at Loudon, but beyond that we don’ t know. If Allmendinger isn’t able to work this out with NASCAR, and is indeed out for an extended period of time, it is very likely that his career in NASCAR is all but over.

Before this season Allmendinger sought, and was granted his release from Richard Petty Motorsports to pursue the Penske opening. He was signed to replace Kurt Busch, but only to a one year deal. Dinger would serve as a stop gap for Penske until they could either find another driver, or Allmendinger flourished.

Unfortunately for A.J. though, this season has not gone well. His 23rd spot in the points combined with an average finish of 20.6 meant his chances of retaining the 22 seat were probably not good anyway. But now with a failed drug test on his record, there is no way Penske keeps him, barring some sort of miraculous reversal by NASCAR.

So now, with the failed test and a marginal record on track, his career options will be extremely limited. No big team or sponsor will take a chance on him, which leaves the start-and-park teams, or a move to a different (and probably lower) series.

For a guy that only a few years ago appeared to have huge potential, it really is a shame. Whether he knowingly ingested something banned or not, we are all responsible for what we put into our bodies. In any case, I hope he is able to get this worked out and get back on his feet.

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BREAKING: Kenseth Out At Roush; To Gibbs

June 26th, 2012 Journo 14 comments

Sources are telling TNI, Roush Fenway executives announced to the organization today that Matt Kenseth would be leaving the team at the end of the season.

Despite earlier rumors that Penske would be Kenseth’s destination, all signs indicate Joe Gibbs Racing as the driver’s future home. What that means for the Gibbs teams is not entirely clear. The team does have room for expansion.

Roush has struggled this season to secure full sponsorship for the one time Sprint Cup Series champion and 22-time winner. With money tight, we are hearing Roush was unwilling to offer the contract the 40-year-old Kenseth was seeking.

We will keep you posted as we get more details.

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Continued Performance, Not One Win, Will Save Logano

June 11th, 2012 T.C. 9 comments

Before Pocono, all the talk about Joey Logano was that he may be on his way out of a Cup ride at Joe Gibbs Racing. Following a win from the pole on Sunday, the discussion about Logano is now about how the win saved his ride. But I’m not convinced that is the case.

2012 is a contract year for Logano, and as is so often the case with athletes in contract years, Logano’s performance has improved this season. His average start and average finish are the best of his career, and he has led almost as many laps this season as all of last. And the Pocono win is his first legitimate one as a Cup driver.

But as much as one win is good, Home Depot is a signature sponsor that wants a signature driver. Finishing 24th in the standings as Logano did last season is not what you expect out of a signature driver. Teams can’t sell wins, because they aren’t guaranteed, but when a sponsor gets involved with a team like JGR, they expect a certain level of performance. Before Pocono, Logano had not delivered.

On the strength of this win, Logano needs to start running well consistently. He doesn’t need to win every race, but showing that he is moving in the right direction is what will save his ride. Realizing the potential of “Sliced Bread” and showing that he could legitimately challenge for a Chase spot is key.

What’s interesting is that even if Logano was dropped from the 20, it is likely that he would stay with JGR. A step back to full time Nationwide, a la Sam Hornish and Penske, would probably be the result. JGR has a lot invested in Logano and it seems they aren’t ready to give up on him completely.

Either way, Logano’s future will not be decided by one good race in the Pennsylvania mountains, but by continued performance over the coming weeks.

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We Lost A Big Hat on Sunday

June 3rd, 2012 Journo 7 comments

Jimmie Johnson won the race on Sunday and edged a little closer to the points lead, but I think the bigger story was something that happened off the track. After 30 years on pit road, reporter Dr. Dick Berggren retired, making Dover his last race.

Berggren, like so many broadcasting greats who came before him  symbolized Sunday through his reassuring voice, encyclopedic knowledge and that familiar flat cap. Through the changing times and personalities, Berggren brought consistency throughout. Tune in on Sunday and there was a good chance he was going to be there.

Berggren, a psychologist by trade found his passion on the short tracks of New England, racing himself for the better part of two decades. He later founded one of motorsports’ publications of record, Speedway Illustrated. In 1981, at Dover International Speedway, Berggren began his TV broadcasting career for ESPN.

And so it was on Sunday, Berggren made his last appearance on a NASCAR broadcast at Dover, some 32 years later.

Berggren was (and still is) a consummate professional, weekly toting around extensive research on each team. It’s fair to say he was the best informed and easily one of the best liked figures in the garage.

Sunday won’t be the same without Dick Berggren, but this is a moment that was well earned. We wish him and his wife Kathy, a happy semi-retirement and many years of enjoyable Friday nights at short tracks throughout the northeast.

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Furniture Row Continues To Progress

May 29th, 2012 T.C. 6 comments

Since coming to the Cup Series in 2005, Furniture Row Racing has grown into its current form gradually. Over the first several years of their existence, poor finishes and DNQs were the norm. But owner Barney Visser stayed the course, and with Regan Smith at the wheel, the team has gained respectability. Their first taste of victory came last season at Darlington, and that earned relevance has Furniture Row at the center of expansion rumors.

It was reported early in May that Furniture Row had spoken with Kurt Busch about possibly driving a second car next season, and they’ve been mentioned as a possible destination for Dodge. Some serious obstacles would have to be overcome if they moved to Dodge, but Competition Director Mark McArdle has previous experience with the manufacturer.

Being located in Denver, Colo., Furniture Row faces unique challenges. They are not completely self-sufficient, as they currently get cars and technical support from Richard Childress Racing, and engines from Earnhardt-Childress Racing. Attracting talented mechanics away from the Charlotte area has been tough, but they’ve made inroads over the last few seasons.

And now, with expansion becoming a serious possibility, Furniture Row is looking at taking another farmed out part of their race team in-house: their pit crew. For the last few years, Furniture Row’s pit crew has been provided by Stewart-Haas Racing. The crew practices and trains at SHR’s shop, and then dons Furniture Row gear for race day. The catch? SHR can pull any member of the crew at any moment if needed.

For next season however, Furniture Row has approached several crew guys about the possibility of moving to Denver and being a part of their first serious attempt at an in-house crew. Doing so would be another step towards complete autonomy in Denver, but it might be tough trying to lure six, and possibly twelve, of the more experienced crew guys out west.

Whatever happens, Furniture Row has shown it’s not far from being a real contender week in and week out. And it’s refreshing to see an owner really commit to investing in the future of his race team, and on his own dime no less.

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New All-Star Format Fell Short

May 21st, 2012 Journo 19 comments

Sandbagging (verb): To hold back; what happened Saturday night at the Sprint All-Star race.

The collective oxygen this morning is being taken up with discussion about what happened Saturday night. A new format and $1 million on the line led the winner of the race to sandbag his way to the end.

NASCAR in its almost yearly revision of the All-Star race rules decided this year to give the winners of each segment of the race an upfront spot for the last 10 lap segment. This led to a great first segment, a slightly less exciting second, third and fourth segment followed by a finish that disappointed immensely.

The real story out of this was race winner Jimmie Johnson who, after winning the first segment, took to trying not to get lapped for the 70 laps that followed until the final segment.

NASCAR set up rules that not only encouraged this behavior but guaranteed it was going to occur. Why would I take a chance I’m going to wreck my equipment when I’m guaranteed a spot at the front for the last ten laps? Johnson said after the race:

“That’s going to be tough for me to knock the system after how our night went because it just worked out exactly how we’d hoped.”

And therein lies the conundrum. NASCAR changes the rules in an attempt to make things more interesting and teams immediately find ways to game the system thereby doing the exact opposite.

I think Johnson was without a doubt the best car on the track Saturday night and would have won regardless of whether he ran upfront all night or sandbagged the entire way. Still, I think the rule changes cheapened Johnson’s win and fell short of creating a more exciting event.

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