Archive for July, 2008

I think we all pretty much figured Ryan Newman was going to land at Stewart-Haas, didn’t we? Given the fact that the motorsport press has written an article about Newman almost every day for three weeks I figured it was already a done deal.

Ryan Newman has reached a verbal agreement to drive for the newly-formed Stewart-Haas Racing next season, according to a report posted Wednesday by ESPN.com.

The deal reportedly could take up to a month to finalize and announce as negotiations continue for car sponsors. The addition of Newman would give Stewart-Haas a pair of Indiana-born drivers with a combined 45 victories and 53 poles in NASCAR’s premier series.

So far, with the exception of Tony Stewart leaving JGR, silly season hasn’t been all that silly.

Finally, maybe we will stop hearing all of the rumors and such about Martin Truex, Jr. taking rides at any one of the other race teams. It seems he has agreed to stay put at DEI.

Martin Truex Jr. apparently is staying put at Dale Earnhardt Inc.

The 28-year-old New Jersey native has agreed in principle to a two-year deal that will keep him at DEI through the 2010 season, according to a report Saturday on ESPN.com.

Truex, who was set to become a free agent at the end of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, had been rumored to take over the No. 12 Dodge at Penske Racing, the No. 4 Chevrolet at newly-formed Stewart-Haas Racing and the No. 33 Chevrolet at Richard Childress Racing.

I haven’t really paid much attention to Truex, to be honest. It really didn’t matter to me where he ended up. If Ryan Newman doesn’t end up at Stewart-Haas, I really hope he ends up at RCR.

This. Was. The. Worst. Race. Ever.

“Weird” only began to describe the 15th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, on a day when tire issues created a 400-mile race in which the longest stretch of green flag racing was 13 laps — once.

In what everyone connected with the event — Goodyear, NASCAR and the competitors — called a major miscalculation in the tire combination that was selected for the 160-lap event, NASCAR was forced to administer the race using a series of “competition cautions.”

Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson for hanging in there and maintaining one of the only consistent performances of the day.

I thought the Car of Tomorrow Today made the sport boring, who knew that the tires they were placing on the car could outshine it when it cames to dulling things down entirely.

What a waste of time. I’m glad I didn’t pay to see this one.

I’m not a huge fan of the Craftsman Truck Series, but I am a fan of Johnny Benson. He’s one of the good guys, and it’s always good to see him win.

Johnny Benson claimed his second consecutive Craftsman Truck Series win on Friday, holding off the challenge of Ron Hornaday during a final two-lap run to the checkered flag in the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

Benson has a 15 point lead over Ron Hornady in the point standings.You can read more about the race at the NASCAR website.

Two weeks ago, Penske Racing and Ryan Newman announced he was leaving the organization. Penske Racing issued a press release that stated it was a mutual decision.

Now, Rusty Wallace has decided he needs more limelight, and our lives are not exciting enough, so he is speaking up.

“He didn’t leave,” Wallace said Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where will be help call the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for ESPN. “I’ve read many, many stories that said that. Roger Penske called Ryan Newman into to his office and said, ‘I don’t need your services next year.’ Ryan Newman didn’t come to him and say, ‘I’m leaving,’ OK? Y’all need to write about that. That’s exactly how it went down. I’ve never seen Roger Penske let anybody in his life go. Obviously there was some bad blood there. I don’t know what went on, I don’t work there anymore, but that’s what happened. I love Roger Penske, so I’m going to clear the story up right now.”

What story is there to clear up? Roger Penske said it was a mutual decision, who is Rusty Wallace to question that? Don’t get me wrong, Rusty Wallace was an excellent race car driver, but I could care less about his opinion in this matter. He is not employed by Penske, he is not driving anymore, and he certainly is no friend of Ryan Newman, so he should just shut the hell up.

He goes on to say that Roger Penske doesn’t like the fact that Newman was talking about the poor performance of the team. Well, boo fucking hoo. They haven’t been performing as well as they should be. The crew, the driver, everyone should be looking at the truth and finding ways to improve their position. If he can’t handle that truth, he’s in the wrong sport. Yes, I know I am talking about Roger Penske. I have been a fan of Penske drivers a long time. I know how it’s gone down in the past, and i still think that Rusty Wallace needs to shut his big fat pie-hole.

Big news in NASCAR, and no, it has nothing to do with the fact that the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and upheld the penalties against the #1 car.

The big news is that Haas/CNC has applied for the #14 car. There is no doubt that will be Smoke’s new number next season as Stewart-Haas Racing takes to the track.

What an awesome day it has been.

This is the final off-week for Cup drivers, but I wanted to congratulate Johnny Benson, who not only won at Kentucky Speedway in the Craftsman Truck race there yesterday, but for also for taking the series point lead by ONE point over Matt Crafton. Way to go Johnny!

Carl Edwards won the Nationwide race, but I think the bigger story is that Joey Logano finished second. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing Logano in the #20 Cup car next season.

I hope you had a good weekend.

The economic downturn is having an effect that’s beginning to ripple across the NASCAR community.

Troubled General Motors has notified two racetracks that run NASCAR events that their current contracts will not be renewed as part of an overall $10 billion cost-cutting program.

That seems to be just the first step in what could be a huge drop in support by GM, Ford and Chrysler for tracks and teams in NASCAR’s top three professional divisions, the NHRA and other racing series in the face of the weakest U.S. auto sales in a decade.

Automakers are cutting back their development support, sponsors are cutting back on their advertising budgets. None of this bodes well for the 2009 NASCAR season.

With silly season upon us, the only thing we seem to know for sure, is that Smoke is now an owner. Everything else is pretty much still up in the air. How silly will the season be, with financing drying up so fast? If only the tracks would dry that fast.

NASCAR technical director Steve Peterson was found dead Tuesday at his home from what appears to be natural causes. He was 58.

Peterson began his NASCAR career in 1995 and led many of NASCAR’s safety initiatives including development and installation of SAFER Barriers, management and approval of head and neck restraints, improved seat belts and coordination of the safety features in NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow.

Rest In Peace, Steve.

Rumors have been swirling that Ryan Newman was contemplating the move to join Tony Stewart at the newly formed Stewart/Haas Racing. Today, Penske Racing made it a little bit easier for him to decide.

Penske Racing and Ryan Newman have mutually agreed to move in new directions at the conclusion of the 2008 season.

“We want to thank Ryan for his hard work and contributions to Penske Racing over the past nine years,” team owner Roger Penske said. “We wish Ryan all the best for the future and we’ll continue to focus our efforts on making the Chase with Ryan and the Alltel Dodge team this season.”

Wow. Okay people. This is where I get upset. Did I think Ryan was going to stay with Penske his entire career? No. Did I think Alltel would remain his sponsor? No. Did I anticipate having to purchase a new hat and re-work all my headshots wearing a new hat? No.

The search for a new hat begins. Now.