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March 27, 2007
Random Thoughts On Nascar Happenings
*Larry MacReynolds speculates in his Fox Sports column that there won't be any penalties handed down for the #16 car failing post-race inspection after Bristol until next week because Nascar can't figure out the rear quarterpanels being too low is a performance enhancement. So they're apparently "confused." Well, they shouldn't have to figure out whether it's a performance enhancement - either it is or it isn't. Maybe if they can't figure out how the low quarterpanels would help improve the results on the track it means that the team wasn't deliberately trying to cheat. The way the column is written it sounds as if Nascar is hunting for some reason to hand out a penalty, and that's not fair.
*According to Jayski, Todd Bodine said this morning on Sirius that Germain Racing plans on fielding a Busch car for him in as many as 12 races this season, with the possibility of them also trying to qualify for 3-4 Cup races. At least until Toyota's Cup program improves, I think Germain is better off focusing on the Busch Series where there's far less problems making the field. On the Cup side the hard work Germain puts into building cars might go for nothing since it's hard enough for well-funded full-time teams to make the field each week, let alone a team that's only racing a handful of races.
*When Michael Waltrip entered into a deal to buy the #77's owner's points last season for the #55 car many fans freaked out. How dare Michael buy his way into the top 35 in owner's points, even though it was just for the first five races of the season, they said. Some fans also cried foul when Michael bought the #32 team's owner's points from Cal Well for the #00 this season even though it simply gave the team some owner's points that could be used in case of a rainout rather than locked them into any races. So why don't any fans seem to care that in spite of having only raced in two races this season, Ward Burton is just six points out of 35th place in the owner's points thanks to a deal Morgan-McClure Racing made with James Finch for the #09's owner's points they got for finishing in the top five at Daytona? Ward just needs one more good finish and he's in the top 35. If he sticks in the top 35, he's locked in for this season, and the first five races of next season. I have my doubts about whether the car will be good enough all season to stay in the top 35, but if he does it, wouldn't have this team also bought their way into the top 35 in owner's points, and on a bigger scale than Michael?
*Apparently Cal Wells is working with Robby Gordon Motorsports. Robby said (no link available),
“Cal’s been coming to work with us on race weekends and observing. He’s just trying to help me in any way he can with the experience that he has.”
I don't understand how this isn't a conflict of interest for Wells since he's listed as the owner of the #00 fielded by Michael Waltrip Racing. Of course that ownership is just on paper because of the purchase of the owner's points, but it doesn't sit quite right with me for Wells to help another team that competes directly against the team he "owns." Wells says that he's working on a deal with sponsors and an ownership group that would results in a two-car effort where would be the minority owner, but run the organization. Since he's working with Robby, one has to wonder if he's buying into Robby Gordon Motorsports. Fielding two cars is something that Robby wants to do, but his recent comments on XM seemed to indicate he didn't think that would be happening soon.
*Kenny Wallace is going to race Richard Childress Racing's #2 car in the Busch race at his hometown track in St. Louis in July. That car is likely to be one of the best cars that Kenny's raced in quite some time, and I would guess he's really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of it. This won't be the first time Kenny races for RCR. In 2002 he raced Kevin Harvick's #29 car when Kevin was suspended for a race. Kenny seems to be the go-to guy for teams who are in need of fill-in drivers, and I think it pays off for him to be so willing to step in when needed.
Posted by silverdsl at March 27, 2007 03:47 PM
Comments
I hadnt seen that about MM and Ward, I have a problem even more so than MW getting the 77/32 points with that...the 09 team still exists...on a part time basis, right? How can MM just have their points they've earned this season?
Posted by: Rachel at March 28, 2007 02:16 PM
The way I understand it, James Finch selling the #09's owner's points to Morgan-McClure means that the #09 team doesn't exist anymore. But I'm not sure there's anything stopping Finch from getting a new number to run a few races with. If he does well at those races, he could sell those owner's points too. It sounds crazy but this is the same owner who didn't bother to bring a pit crew to one Cup race because he knew that that he was going to have Johnny Benson park the car before the first pit stop. He made no effort to hide that he had just entered the race to start 'n park and pick up last place money.
ETA: Larry McClure is on XM right now and says that they added James Finch to the "board" of Morgan-McClure Motorsports so they could get (buy) the owner's points of the #09. Apparently the way it works is that Finch will be listed as the owner of the #4 from now on, and the #09 will be fielded at a couple of races with Larry McClure listed as the owner, but presumably without any owner's points since those were shifted to the #4.
Posted by: silverdsl- at March 28, 2007 03:54 PM