SPEEDTV.com's Tom Jensen is the former managing editor of National Speed Sport News earned the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award in 1997.
Click here for Tom's columns.
Past races: Daytona | California | Las Vegas | Atlanta | Bristol | Martinsville | Texas | Phoenix | Talladega | Richmond | Darlington
Middle of the race works well
Q: Has NASCAR ever thought about having the big race at the end of the year? — Anthony from Sacramento, Calif.
A: Has NASCAR ever thought about having the big race at the end of the year? Not in recent years. It works well where it is.
Backup lights
Q: What happens if the power goes out during a night race. Are there backup power sources to keep the lights on? — TJ from North Wilkesboro, N.C.
A: There are backups for the backups so the juice will stay on.
Format explained
Q: Could someone please explain the rules/payout and how the winner is decided in this race? — JT from Fort Worth, Texas
A: Thanks for the question. The short answer is there are four, 20-lap segments. The overall winner is the driver who takes the fourth and final segment. He will win $1 million. For a detailed explanation of the format, please click here.
Labonte needs luck
Q: Do you think Bobby Labonte is a threat to win the All Star Challenge or the race next weekend? He's usually pretty good in Charlotte. It would be refreshing to see someone new win this year. — Jenn from St. Louis
A: Welcome to the All-Star race. Bobby Labonte loves Lowe's Motor Speedway. I think he will be a longshot. His best bet might be tonight, if the leaders have trouble in the all-star race.
Brilliant disguise
Q: Since 10 years have passed since the famous T Rex Chevrolet Special won the All Star Race at Charlotte, what was the special design and equipment? Crew chief Ray Evernham said he personnelly cut up the car, true or false. Why the big mystery after 10 years? History should include the details. — Mike from Arlington, Va.
A: I hate to sound self-serving, but I wrote a lot about the T Rex in my book, Cheating: The Bad Things Good Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of Speed. If you want a detailed history, you can find it in my book. The quick answer is that most race cars are set up to get better on long runs, typically 50 laps or more at a 1.5-mile track. The T Rex featured unique suspension geometry that maximized performance at the start of a run. Remember, back then, the final segment was only 10 laps. If you'll recall, the car was less good early in the longer segments. The T Rex was never intended to race anywhere but the all-star race, but Ray Evernham snowed everyone — the media and other car owners and crew chiefs — that the T Rex was going to be the Hendrick Motorsports chassis of the future. It was a brilliant piece of deception or misdirection.
Fast stops
Q: Matt Kenseth's Killer Bees pit stop for the All-Star race was a blistering 11.6, the fastest I've ever seen or heard of. Obviously the four-tire change format is different for the All-Star race, but what is the record for the fastest four-tire stop during a normal Cup race and who holds it? — Ryan from Los Angeles, Calif.
A: Sorry to disappoint, but NASCAR doesn't keep stats on fastest pit stops. The fastest I've seen have been in the 12.8-second range, by Kenseth's crew and a couple of others.
Round 1 to AT&T
Q: Why is everyone saying Nextel lost its exclusivity? Cingular changed to AT&T. There were three phone companies in Cup (Nextel, Alltel and Cingular), and there are still three, not four. The judge stated NASCAR retained exclusivty as to sponsors. This was nothing more than a name change. — Mike from Hooks, Texas
A: Obviously, the judge agreed with AT&T's take, but this case is a long way from over. Expect it to be back in court as NASCAR appeals the decision.
DEI appeal
Q: Wasn't that Tony Eury Jr. that I saw on TV during qualifying for the Nextel All-Star Challenge? I thought he was suspended, and it started with this weekend's race. — Caryn from Franklin, N.J.
A: Great question. DEI has formally appealed Eury's suspension so he's allowed to be at the track this weekend. Interestingly, if he loses the appeal, he'll still only be suspended for six races, where he was originally supposed to be suspended for six points races and the all-star race. And by the way, I talked to a bunch of people at the track yesterday — team owners and drivers — and they all said NASCAR told them COT violations would be dealt with harshly. Nobody thought Eury's punishment was either surprising or unfair.
Merger won't affect Dale Jr.
Q:Hey, Tom, with the merging of DEI and RCR on their engine programs, would this be a help or hindrance in RCR landing Dale Earnhardt Jr.? — Kenny from McMinnville, Tenn.:
A: Hello and welcome to All-Star weekend. Earnhardt was asked yesterday if the merger affected his decision, and he said, "No, not really. We're still thinking about where we want to go and putting everything in a row and getting everything lined up. It wouldn't impact my decision, though. Absolutely not." I asked Childress about it a few minutes later, and he said he hadn't spoken with Earnhardt yet.
Kyle won't cut and run
Q: I heard that Kyle Busch is in the middle of a renewal of his contract with Hendrick. Although I still think it's a slim chance that Junior will drive for Hendrick, could this open the door for him to invite Junior? I only even say anything cause, even though Kyle is performing well, after what I saw at Texas makes me wonder if Busch, Hendrick, and his teammates are all on the same page? Could Kyle Busch be in the mix of silly season? ¡ Shane from Lebanon, Tenn.
A: Thanks for the question. There's a reason it's called "Silly Season." Some of the stuff I hear is truly absurd. I fully expect Kyle Busch to remain with Hendrick Motorsports for a long time to come. Anything is possible, but I haven't heard his name in the mix in any credible way.
Schrader in limbo
Q: I read that Bill Elliott will race the No. 21 next week at Lowe's. Where does that leave my man Ken Schrader and his future with the Wood Brothers? — Larry from Hampstead, N.C.:
A: Hello! Unfortunately, Schrader is kind of in limbo with the Wood Brothers. Elliott's deal with the Woods is race to race, but I have to believe as long as Elliott has champion's provisionals, he's going to be in the No. 21. Remember, Schrader was going to split time with Jon Wood anyway, so it wasn't like he was going to run the full schedule.
Crew salaries
Q: What do gas men and catch-can men on pit crews make in salary? It's a lifetime dream of mine. — Mark from Fairfield, Ohio:
A: That's an excellent question and one without an easy answer, because there are a lot of variables. Is the crew guy race-day only or does he work in the shop during the week? Does he work for a huge team or a small one? That said, for guys who only pit the car and don't work at the shop, I've heard of salaries from anywhere from $1,000 a race to low six-figures ($100,000+) annually. Guys who have full-time jobs with the crews and work in the shops can — and do — make a lot more, depending on their specific jobs and skills. You can make a great living in racing, but I can promise you, the demands of constant travel and the pressure to perform are enormous.
Don't dump on Humpy
Q: Am I the only one who has a problem with a track owner, Humpy Wheeler, picking a winner of a race? Seems like that is almost like the raffle operator saying who will win the shotgun at the fair. — Mike from Hooks, Texas
A: Welcome to all-star weekend! I have no problem with Humpy Wheeler picking the winner of the Nextel All-Star Challenge for two reasons. First, NASCAR officiates the race, not the track, which eliminates a potential conflict of interest. Second, he's been right about half the time, which is not often enough to make me worry that something might not be on the up and up.
New Car not all-star ready yet
Q: Would it have made more sense to use the COT at the Nextel All-Star Challenge at the famous Lowe's track as a changing of the guard sort of deal, or is that too much preparation on drivers and crew? Who decided where the COT cars were run this year? — Michael from Mississauga, Ontario
A: Enjoy the all-star event, it should be fun. No, the COT should not have been used for the Nextel All-Star Challenge. NASCAR chose the schedule for the COT, deliberately — and wisely, I think — rolling it out at slower tracks first, so teams could race it at less aero-sensitive tracks first.
Pit picks not a big deal
Q: How important is pit selection at Lowe's compared to the other large tracks on the circuit? Also, will they be using the 18 gallon fuel cells here? — Eric from Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
A: Thanks for being with us at FOX! It's a lot less important at the all-star event than in next week's Coca-Cola 600. The all-star race has just 21 cars, so pit road will be a lot less crowded. Yes, the 18-gallon fuel cells will be used.
Bud-ding relationship
Q: Hi Tom, thanks for all of the articles, now to my question. If Joe Gibbs Racing is anti-beer, then why do his teams compete in the Bud Shootout? The Pettys have the same stance on alcohol, and none of their cars has a Bud Pole decal. So what is the difference of having a beer sponsorship and competing in the Bud Shootout? — Julie from Spokane, Wash.
A: Greetings. I think there's a world of difference between competing in the Bud Shootout and having Budweiser as your primary sponsor. For one thing, the Shootout is but one race in a 36-races season. And there's a whole lot of difference between running a small contingency decal on your fender and actively working to promote beer consumption.
Jacques and roll
Q: I'm trying to settle a small discussion with a co-worker about the Montreal Busch race this year. Is Jacques Villeneuve going to be racing? So far, all I've heard are rumors left over from last year when they made it official that Busch would come to Montreal. — Julie from Stanstead, Quebec City, Canada
A: Hello, up north. Jacques does not have a completed NASCAR deal yet, but is working on several proposals. "Everyone wants to know what news there is about NASCAR too of course," Jacques said. "As you might, expect there's nothing official to say yet, but we're getting there!"
Terry Labonte to test Busch car at Montreal track
All-Star 'splained
Q: Can you please explain how the drivers are chosen for the Nextel All-Star Challenge? I read that they are winners of a race last year and so far this year plus the top two from the Nextel Open and the one voted in by fans. That doesn't explain why Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Ryan Newman and Mark Martin are entered. None of them won a race last year or this year. — Sue from La Salle, Ill.
A: Welcome to all-star week! The short answer to your question is Jarrett and Labonte are in because they have been series champions within the past 10 years and Newman and Martin are in because each of them has won this race within the past 10 years. For a detailed explanation of how the field is set, please click here.
House that Jimmie built
Q: Why is Jimmie Johnson so good at Lowe's Motor Speedway? And does anyone stand a chance to beat him? — Dylan from Malden, Mo.
A: Thanks for the question. Every driver has a favorite track and a least favorite track. LMS obviously is Johnson's favorite. For one thing, the track is the home track for Hendrick Motorsports, which is only a couple of miles away. They put a ton of effort into running well here. For another, Johnson is good at all the 1.5-mile quad ovals. Can anyone beat him? Sure. It could be Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin or Denny Hamlin. But if someone does beat him, they'll have to execute flawlessly and not make the kind of silly mistakes that teams have been making this year in giving away races
Can't criticize penalty
Q: I would like to know how NASCAR justifies their penalties. When Jeff Gordon got caught with something wrong with his car in Daytona, they ruled it unintentional. But everyone else that weekend got some kind of penalty. Now with the No. 8 car, Tony Eury Jr. said it was not intentional, but they got a huge fine, penalties and a suspension. How is this fair? — Angie from Connersville, Ind.
A: Hello, there! Every single time a team gets caught breaking the rules, the team ALWAYS says it's unintentional. But it's up to NASCAR to judge intent. And whenever NASCAR makes a judgment call, some people are going to think it's unfair, depending on who that person roots for and/or against. NASCAR's job isn't to appease everyone, it's to run the sport fairly. And while there are situations when they can legitimately be criticized, I don't feel this is one of them.
Denny deserves to be angry
Q: Why is Denny Hamlin crying about Jeff Gordon's victory in Darlington? He criticized NASCAR for not throwing a debris caution, but he had two cautions in the last 30 laps to catch Gordon, whose chili-hot engine nearly blew. — Billy from Richmond, Va.
A: Welcome to FOX. I don't blame Denny Hamlin for being upset. He should have won three COT races and he hasn't won any of them — a broken part cost him in Bristol, a pit-road speeding penalty in Phoenix and, now, dropped lugnuts in Darlington. He was just blowing off a little steam because he wants to win and hasn't so far. Nothing wrong with that. I'd rather have someone on my team who was mad he didn't win then someone who thought it was OK to give races away.
Who owns numbers?
Q: OK, who actually owns the number that's displayed on each car? I've been told the car owner, and likewise I've been told Nextel actually owns all the numbers. — Ken from Rome City, Ind.
A: NASCAR owns the car numbers and permits the teams to use them.
No teeth to suspensions
Q: When a crew chief is banned from the track, does that mean they are not allowed in the shop during the week or is it only at the track? — Randy from Marion, Iowa
A: The way NASCAR works it, if you're suspended, you are banned from the track where the race is, and you're banned from any official tests. If NASCAR were testing at Dover, Del. as they had originally planned, the crew chief would not be allowed to go to that test, and he wouldn't be able to go to the upcoming race. But he can go to the shop. He can call his guys on the cell phone. He can sit outside across the street from the track with a scanner and a cell phone, barking out instructions. I really don't think the suspensions have that much teeth in them if people are allowed to show up at the shops every week.
No-hassle Hendrick
Q: What the heck is wrong with these other teams? It's not like they're gone to let Hendrick win every race, are they? — Luke from Wadesboro, N.C.
A: Well, we sure hope they aren't going to let Hendrick win every race. Bobby Knight, the basketball coach, has a theory, and that's great plays don't win games, bad plays lose them. You've seen that inn four of the five Car of Tomorrow races so far. The only one of those races where Hendrick was fastest was Martinsville. At the other four, pepole broke. People made mistakes. There were pit road speeding penalties and then droppped lugnuts at Darlington on Denny Hamlin's car. These guys have to get their act together if they want to challenge Hendrick.
New Car = great racing
Q: Tom, if NASCAR keeps the COT in place, the races will look like the NBA. Watch the last five minutes, and you will see all the action in each race. Round & round they go, no good racing, until they have to throw caution into the wind. What are your thoughts? — Mark from Pearl River, La.
A: I have to respectfully disagree. There's a lot of great racing, but it's usually back in the field, not up in the front. At Darlington, Juan Pablo Montoya was a couple of laps down, and he was racing everybody who was around him like it was the last lap of the race. I don't think any of it has to do with the COT. I think it's all just the length of the race: 500 miles. There's going to be some slow spots. But I think it's been pretty good so far.
Dale Sr.'s intentions
Q: I can't believe I haven't heard this issue addressed! My problem with the whole thing is as smart of a man as Dale Sr. was why weren't his wishes for the future of DEI taken care of in his will so that if something did happen, the business would be taken over by Jr.? Or at least he would have a controling interest. — Larry from Joplin, Mo.
A: My wife was an estate planner for quite a while, and one of the things that goes on in these situations is you don't know what was written in their will. And you don't know waht Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s intentions were. So it's very difficult to analyze. But it's not unusual in estate planning for a spouse to leave everything to the surviving spouse and then it transfers to the children upon the surviving spouse's death. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's the situation here although obviously we don't have access to the will so we can't ever know for sure.
Not his Bud
Q: You reported that Joe Gibbs Racing may not get involved with Dale Jr. because of his long relationship with Budweiser. What's up with that, and why would they not want such a big sponsor as Budweiser? — Tom from Newark, Del.
A: Joe Gibbs is a very conservative and religious man, and he's very much anti-alcohol. The Budweiser sponsorship — which is a beer sponsorship obviously — would pose a personal conflict for him. I don't know that it's necessarily a deal-breaker. It might be, it might not be. But he very much does not want to have a beer company sponsoring one of his cars.
One more year for Ryan
Q: I read a rumor that Ryan Newman is a possible candidate to go to JGR. Is Ryan's contract up with Penske Racing at the end of the year? If so, will Ryan and Tony get along with their past and present rough racing against each other, including the Darlington Busch race? — Bruce from Niceville, Fla.
A: I've heard a lot of those same rumors. I spoke with Don Miller, president of Penske Racing South, a couple of weeks ago, and he told me Ryan's contract is up at the end of the 2008 season, not at the end of the 2007 season. As we learned in 2005 when Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray went through their little dance with leaving teams, contracts are flexible and sometimes there can be buyouts and sometimes there can be changes. If Ryan did go to Joe Gibbs Racing, I think he would figure out a way to make it work with Tony, and Tony would figure out a way to make it work with Ryan. But it's all speculation at the moment. We don't have anything definite on it.
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