An Inconsistent Random Idea From NASCAR
It’s good there is going to be random testing. But how random can you get?
NASCAR on Saturday morning at Dover International Speedway announced an updated drug policy, which will include random testing beginning in 2009.
NASCAR held a mandatory drivers’ meeting for the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series competitors on hand for Saturday and Sunday’s events at Dover, including some team owners and crew members.
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The selection would be so random that O’Donnell said a driver could be tested every week in the season, or never after the preseason test is given. And he deflected any concern about bias.
If your test ends up so random that one particular driver is picked every week, there’s something wrong with your “randomness. Then again, why would an organization unconcerned about consistency worry about randomness either?
Making Comparisons
I hate hurricanes. I hate anything that makes the cost of gas go up.
On Thursday, gas at this same station was $3.67. I filled up there yesterday for $4.07. I hate hurricanes.
Tomorrow’s race at Loudon, the Sylvania 300, is a 317 mile race. Each car in the race will average 2.6 laps per gallon (according to Hendricks Motorsports). That’s a total of 121.92 gallons of gas.
If Sunoco wasn’t sponsoring their fuel, they would be paying for their own fuel. If they paid the current rate (like I would have too), that would amount to $523.04 to run the whole race.
There are 43 cars in the race using 5,243 gallons of fuel. The cost of the fuel for the entire race would be $22,492.47. Wow.
With that kind of gas mileage, I’m not to upset about my 19mpg this week.
NSCRC Overturns Some Penalties, Not Others
I am a bit shocked here. The National Stock Car Racing Commission rarely overturns penalties. I am somewhat confused why they would reverse the probation part of the penalty, but not the points.
On Sept. 3, 2008, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Joe Gibbs Racing. The appeal concerned two penalties issued by NASCAR to drivers Tony Stewart and Joey Logano.
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After reviewing the testimony presented during the hearing, the National Stock Car Racing Commission unanimously decided to amend the penalties assessed by NASCAR, removing the probation portions of both driver penalties, while leaving the championship driver points portions intact.
So, they believe the infraction warrants the penalty of all those points being taken away, but feel that they don’t need probation because of it. Were the infractions serious or not? Who knows. It’s bad enough when NASCAR acts inconsistent.
I’m Not The Only One
I finally agree with Chad Knaus.
Chad Knaus sat in the office of the No. 48 hauler, shredding documents, guarding what few secrets he is still allowed to keep.
He is Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief — whatever there is left of the job description of a crew chief.
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Now he works in a technological straitjacket introduced as the Car of Tomorrow and, now that it’s mandatory everywhere, called “the new car.”
I bet it’s just a matter of time before more and more people (drivers and crew chiefs alike) come forward and tell the truth about the worst decision NASCAR ever made.
Busch & Edwards On Suspension
These guys use their vehicles to smash into each other after the race. If you were watching the race at the track, and then left in your car, and smashed the guy pulling out in front of you, you could be charged with a crime. Assault with a deadly weapon.
NASCAR announced on Wednesday that it has placed Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards on probation for the next six races in the Sprint Cup Series, as a result of their on-track incident Saturday night at the conclusion of the race at Bristol.
Busch and Edwards violated Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; hitting another competitor’s car after the race had concluded) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book.
Of course, the way they build these cars, neither one of them was in any real danger, and apparently either are their checkbooks. No fines. No suspensions. Just “probation” again.
Wow.
Cheaters Never Prosper
When NASCAR said they were handing down big penalties against Joe Gibbs Racing, they were not kidding.
NASCAR announced on Wednesday that the Nos. 18 and 20 teams in the Nationwide Series have been penalized due to rule violations discovered by NASCAR inspectors prior to post-race testing on the chassis dynamometer Aug. 16 at Michigan.
Included in the penalties are the indefinite suspension of seven Joe Gibbs Racing team members.
Here’s a summary of the penalties:
Joey Logano and Tony Stewart were both penalized 150 driver points and placed on probation until December 31st.
Joe Gibbs was penalized 150 owner points from each car.
Jason Ratcliff, crew chief of the #18, and Dave Rogers, crew chief of the #20, were fined $50,000 each and suspended indefinitely.
Dorian Thorsen, car chief, and Michael Johnson, engine tuner, both from the #18 team, were suspended indefinitely.
Richard Bray, car chief, and Dan Bajek, engine tuner, both from the #20 team, were suspended indefinitely.
In addition the entire #18 and #20 teams were placed on probation until December 31st.
I’m sure Joe Gibbs is not happy at all, and I’m sure he will hand down his own penalties, if he hasn’t already.
Shuffling The Schedule For ‘09
NASCAR shook up the schedule again this year. I have no idea why they decide to swap them the way they do, but I kind of like this one.
Atlanta’s second 2009 race will be held on Sunday, September 6, taking the Labor Day weekend slot currently held by Auto Club Speedway.
That means the California track’s second race will be Sunday, October 11 - the fourth week of the Sprint Cup’s “Chase for the Championship,” a slot formerly held by Talladega.
Talladega’s second event will move to Sunday, November 1, making it the seventh Chase event - the weekend formerly held by Atlanta.
Moving the Atlanta race to September 6th will make it easier for me to make it to a rac ein person one day. I always seem to have schedule conflicts when NASCAR hits Atlanta, so this could work out to be a very cool change.
Brian Vickers Takes The Pole
Wow… Brian Vickers won the pole for Sunday’s 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
“It was there from the first lap, the first turn,” Vickers said after his lap of 188.536 mph put the Red Bull Racing driver on the pole for Sunday’s 3M Performance 400.
After he left Hendrick Motorsports, I never thought we’d see him start from the pole again. Great job Brian!
In other not surprising news…
Tony Stewart officially announced that Ryan Newman will drive the second car for his newly formed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team during a news conference Friday at Michigan International Speedway.
The addition of Newman gives Stewart-Haas a pair of drivers with a combined 45 victories and 53 poles in NASCAR’s premier series.
Wow. Oooh. Oh my gosh. Yeah, like that news is so last week. Welcome aboard, Ryan. You better have a cool sponsor, and nice lookin hat. Just saying.
Rain Soaks Watkins Glen
Here’s another example of why I think every driver should have to qualify every week.
Right now, the top 35 teams are automatically in the race, which leaves just 8 spots for those who happen to find themselves outside the top 35.
Oh sure, it takes a bit of work to stay in the top 35, but if you don’t have to go through the trouble to actually, you know, qualify, it doesn’t take too much after that as long as you’re a capable driver.
Boris Said can’t seem to buy a break at Watkins Glen International.
Sprint Cup qualifying for the Centurion Boats at The Glen was canceled Friday because of rain for the fourth time in five years at the storied road course in upstate New York. That forced Said to park his No. 60 Ford for the second straight year here. Said has to qualify to race because he has only raced twice in 2008.
“It’s depressing because our four guys in the shop put in so much work,” said Said, also prevented from qualifying in 2000 and 2005. “Two years in a row we haven’t started the motor.”
Boris Said is one of the greatest road course drivers the world has ever seen and once again he had to find another way into the race. Shameful.
Watkins Glen Looks Promising For Someone
While I agree that this road course couldn’t come at a better time, I think it’s rather presumptuous to think either Jeff Gordon or Tony Stweart will win this weekend.
They are both having quite the season, and a win would definitely do them good, but it’s that season they are having that is the issue here.
A road course race couldn’t come at a better time for Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon.
The masters of Watkins Glen International—Stewart and Gordon have combined to win eight of the past 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup races on the twisting, 11-turn layout—are mired in season-long winless streaks heading into Sunday’s Centurion Boats at The Glen.
Who knows, maybe they’ll make the race exciting and finish one and two with it coming right down to the wire. Ahh, yeah, I see that happening, sigh.
Let’s hope for more excitement this weekend.