SPEEDTV.com's Tom Jensen is the former managing editor of National Speed Sport News and earned the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award in 1997.
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California pit selections
Past races: Daytona | California | Las Vegas | Atlanta | Bristol | Martinsville | Texas | Phoenix | Talladega | Richmond | Darlington | All-Star Challenge | Charlotte | Dover | Pocono | Michigan | Michigan | Sonoma | Loudon | Daytona | Chicagoland | Indianapolis | Pocono | Watkins Glen | Michigan | Bristol
Getting better all the time
Q: Sorry Tom, I am not able to watch the race because of a sleeping roommate. I am however using FOX Trax and have seen that my driver, Kasey Kahne, has been as far back as the 30s and now has been running in the top 10. Was there a strategy played by his crew or is his car getiing better. Thanks for your answers Tom! — Matthew from Cape Breton
A: His team has gotten his car better throughout the night.
Sloppy night
Q: Hello Tom. My question is about these cautions tonight. What is the difference tonight as opposed to last night's race? I know we had a 28-minute red flag....... but we only had six cautions last night. — Pam from Chipley, Fla.
A: It's just a sloppy night - there's no one thing I can point to.
Electrical OK
Q: My man Jimmie Johnson is running pretty good at this point. But a few laps ago, he was really off the pace. Did I hear something about electrical problems? Thanks. — John from Appleton
A: Yes, there were some battery concerns earlier, but they have been handled.
Rubber hitting the road
Q: How many tires do teams bring to the track each race? Seems like they've gone through quite a few tonight. — Mark from Twin Falls, Idaho
A: Goodyear brings the tires and the teams get them at the track. It's not unusual to go through 10-15 sets in a race.
Who's your dog?
Q: How many tires do teams bring to the track each race? Seems like they've gone through quite a few tonight. — Mark from Twin Falls, Idaho
A:
Who's your dog?
Q: We've had two cautions in the last 20 minutes and both times ESPN won't say who the lucky dog is!! Who has it been these past two times? — Trinidy from Americus, Ga.
A: Reed Sorenson caused the 10th caution so he wasn't eligible, and David Ragan got the free pass during the 11th caution. You can check out RaceTrax for caution recaps, including lucky dogs.
Who threw the bottle?
Q: Hey Tom, when NASCAR threw the caution because of the water bottle being thrown from the car, do you think it was because a driver wanted a caution so bad? I remember Robby Gordon was fined at Lowes last year for throwing debris from his car to get a caution. Thanks a lot. — Matthew from Cape Breton
A: Yep, that's exactly what it was. Don't know who threw it, but Biffle needed a caution badly and benefitted from this.
Rubber catches fire
Q: During the green flag stops, Denny Hamlin was pitting and the camera view was dead on the nose of his car. While the tire changer was changing the left front, some sparks or pieces of something fell that was on fire. What could it have been? Mark from Venice, Fla.
A: I saw that and my guess would be some rubber got up on the headers, caught fire and fell off. If you look under the hood of a Cup car after a race, the engine compartment has a ton of rubber "marbles" that collect there.
Good racing around Kyle
Q: Wow, it is pretty uncharacteristic of California Speedway tonight, isn't it? A lot of passing, especially for the lead, and they are running all over the track. Pretty nice to see. — Cameron from Windsor, Ontario, Canada
A: Yes, it's good to see some hard racing up front, though Kyle Busch is putting a hurting on the field.
Amen to start times
Q: Hey Tom, what is up with all the crazy start times this season? In the east, we used to watch races at 1:00 after Church. This season, by the time the race is startin,g we've already found something else to do, or we don't get to see the last part of race. Labor Day Weekend is supposed to be a great race but here in the east, we probably won't make it to the end of the race. It's 10:30 pm and the race is barely past the halfway point. The kids gotta get to bed. Whose bright idea was it to mess around with start times? Give us back consistent start times and Darlington on Labor Day Weekend! — The Barker Family from Bryantsville, Ky.
A: I TOTALLY, COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU. THIS IS INSANE!!
Better safe than sorry
Q: NASCAR is much too quick to throw the caution. JJ spins doesn't hit anything...nobody near him...caution flys instantly. WHY? If you are going to have a caution for this why not line'em up and go again after 1 or 2 laps...the track is clear. Let's RACE! — Dave from Houston, Texas
A: The problem is, the speeds here are so high, that it's better to be safe than sorry.
A lot of Chase chatter
Is it just me, or are they only talking about the cars in the Chase and on the bubble? Vickers and Mears are running in the top 10, and I've heard them mentioned maybe ten times between them. — Samantha from Buffalo, N.Y.
A: Yep, you're correct.
Can heat affect engines?
Can the heat have an affect on how hot the engine is? — Tom from Cincinnati, Ohio
A: It shouldn't affect the engine temp per se, but there have been problems like melted wiring that are the result of the heat.
No. 8 just right
Tom, why did Earnhardt stay out under caution? — Sam from Belpre, Ohio
A: Tony Eury Jr. thought the car was handling just right and didn't want to mess it up.
Nearly 25 years since unsponsored car?
Q: Jeff Burton is running well! Not to mention the last three Fontana winners in the Busch race went on to win the Cup race the next day. Which leads me to my question. When was the last time an unsponsered car won a Cup race? — Mark from Venice, Fla.
A: Right off the top of my head, the last truly unsponsored car I remember winning a Cup race was Greg Sacks in the 1985 Firecracker 400. But since NASCAR doesn't keep this as a stat, there well could have been someone since then that I'm not aware of.
Pit walls
Q: Why do some tracks have pit walls and some tracks don't have the wall? — Austin from Heber City, Utah
A: The reason some tracks have pit walls and some don't is configuration. Generally speaking, the smaller tracks have them, because they are more in danger of having a car crash from the track into the pits than a track like California which has a huge infield runoff area.
Six-pack of failures
Q: How many cars do you think will have engine failures in the Sharp Aquos 500 at Fontana, Calif.? — Chris from Latham, N.Y.
A: Great question. I say six motors will fail tonight. One down, five to go.
More fans in Darlington
Q: Hi Tom! Just thought I'd mention that it's a balmy 83 degrees right now in Darlington. Wish NASCAR were here! Do you think there'll be even 50,000 people there today?
A: Hi, Jo! Let's put it this way: I guarantee you that however many people are in California tonight, there would be more if we were racing in Darlington!
No title for No. 8
Bill from Seguin, Texas: I feel sorry for the man behind the wheel of the No. 8 next year. The boos will echo from coast to coast. My question is what CEO in his right mind would put his company's name on that car? That will be a marketing and sales nightmare.
A: Thanks for the comments. If everything I'm hearing is correct, the No. 8 will be shared by Mark Martin and Aric Almirola and sponsored by the U.S.
Army. Martin is as quality a man as you will find in the garage. He's a great guy, and I think Almirola will be successful, too. Here's the issue, though. If that happens, that means the No. 8 - an Earnhardt family number dating back to Ralph Earnhardt - will not contend for the driver's championship, which I think is a sorry state of affairs indeed.
Camry built in U.S.
Gene from Fontana, Calif.: Is it true that Toyotas are assembled in the U.S. but all the parts and components are built in Japan and shipped here for assembly?
A: Welcome to FOX. Absolutely not true. While I don't know about every vehicle Toyota offers, the Camry, which is what's raced in Nextel Cup, has at least 75 percent domestic (U.S.) parts content.
Busch will push JGR teammates
Raena from Belpre, Ohio: Tom, do you think Kyle Busch's jump to JGR will help or hurt Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin get their setups back on track?
A: Happy Labor Day! I don't think either Tony Stewart or Denny Hamlin are off track on their setups at the moment, but I do think Kyle Busch will push them both next year.
One year for Regan?
Q: I really like Regan Smith and think he does a great job representing our nation's Army and our brave men and women in uniform. What is the meaning of the one-year contract? Does that imply conditions for a future contract term? — Jim from Williamsburg, Va.
A: Thanks for being with us. I think Regan Smith is a promising young talent. As I understand it, all of the various military sponsorships are one year only and have to be renewed annually, which is a requirement of the government. It doesn't have anything specific to do with Smith or Dale Earnhardt Inc.
California cash cow?
Q: Does the California Speedway bring in the most money for NASCAR out of all the tracks? My neighbor seems to think that it does, and I don't see how since it never sells out. I just wanted to get your opinion so I can clear things up. — Jeff from Ontario, Calif.
A: Welcome to FOX. No, California Speedway is far from the most lucrative in terms of ticket revenue, given that the seating capacity (94,000) is relatively small, and it rarely sells out. I don't know how much it generates in terms of television revenue relative to other tracks, but I'd be shocked if this race is in the top one-third money-makers for NASCAR.
Too hot
Q: The temperature for the start of the Sharp Aquos 500 will be 105. I heard that when the race is finished, the temperature will be about 100. What is the hottest race that you have been to ever? — Chris from Latham, N.Y.
A: Thanks for the question. I've been to a lot of hot races, as you might imagine. Bristol last weekend was unbearably hot and humid. In terms of absolute temperature, though, I think the hottest race I ever covered was the 1989 U.S Grand Prix in Phoenix, where temperatures were near 110 degrees.
Wait 'til after wreck
Q: I was wondering when a driver has a horrible crash like Brad Keselowski did in the Busch race in California, what do the crew chief and spotter say to the driver while the car is in limbo rubbing against the wall? Do they wait until the wreck is said and done with and the car isn't moving, or do they try and contact him as soon as the wreck is in motion to make sure he's OK? — Monica from Kansas City, Kan.
A: Glad you could be with us. Generally speaking, wrecks happen very, very quickly. Typically, a spotter or crew chief will wait until the incident is over before inquiring about the driver's well being.
Treated and released
Q: How is Brad Keselowski doing? Go Jeff Gordon! — Amanda from Indianapolis, Ind.
A: Hello, there. I'm happy to report that Brad Keselowski has been released from Loma Linda, Calif., hospital and will be fine. He's bruised up and a little beaten up, but according to the team, suffered no serious injury despite the violence of the crash.
Kyle can't keep quiet
Q: Was Kyle Busch supposed to release news about the jump to Toyota? Or do you think he prematurely spilled the beans? Not a good way to start out with a new team, releasing things before time. — Paul from Sioux Falls, S.D.
A: Welcome to FOX. No, Kyle Busch was not supposed to confirm the Toyota move. And no, it wasn't a good way to start things off with his new team. I'd imagine the folks from Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota are mighty steamed.
Stay tuned for Tony news
Q: Now that Joe Gibbs racing has decided to go with Toyota, I have a couple of questions. Doesn't Tony Stewart have a "long term" contract with GM? How will this affect his current contract, not to mention his long-term contract? — Jim from Albuquerque, N.M.
A: Thanks for the question. Tony Stewart does have a long-term deal with GM. I guess that will be addressed during the team's press conference on Wednesday at JGR headquarters.
Not as brutal as Bristol
Q: What is the forecast for Sunday's race. Is there any possibility to delay the race so it can cool down some since I would rather see a race start late than on time with less concern for the drivers? With TV, I realize it would be hard to do. — Tom from Cincinnati, Ohio
A: Hi there. The forecast is sunny and hot, and no, I don't expect the start to be delayed. These drivers are pro athletes, and California Speedway is nowhere near as hard on the body as Bristol is and everyone survived the insane Bristol heat last week.
Sponsor setup
Q: Hey Tom, why can't Jeff Burton just use some of his other sponsors like Prilosec OTC or Lenox Tools instead of driving a blank car? It would make more sense unless he is trying to get a new main sponsor. — Matthew from Nova Scotia, Canada
A: Thanks for joining us. In theory, Jeff Burton's car could use Lenox or Prilosec. But AT&T/Cingular paid to be the primary sponsor for the vast majority of the races, and they are dictating what the look of the car is for their races.
Plate great ending?
Q: Has NASCAR ever considered making Talladega the final race or at least pushing it to later in the season? It would make the Chase much more exciting because you would have less time to recover from the luck or chance outcomes of the Big One. — Diego from Thornhill, Ontario
A: Great question. I broached the subject of ending the Nextel Cup season at Daytona last year, and NASCAR officials said there was no way they'd end the season at a restrictor-plate track.
Gibbs will get Toyota on track
Q: Hi Tom. I just read the news that an announcement is soon coming from JGR that Tony, Denny & Kyle will be driving Toyotas next year. I worry because we all know the success Toyota has had this year. Do you think JGR will struggle next year like the Toyota teams did this year or do you think that because JGR is one of the top teams they will be better as a first year Toyota team? — Stacey from Upstate New York
A: Welcome to FOX. Anytime you add a new variable to the equation, such as changing a manufacturer, there is a learning curve. The question is, how long will it be? One race? One year? Somewhere in between? My guess is it will take a bit of time for JGR to get used to all the nuances of the new car, but I expect them to be very good and fairly quickly.
No to just speed for qualifying
Q: Do you think that NASCAR should only qualify on speed and time? No provisionals. The driver who is slower than the 43rd spot goes home, even if the driver is leading in points or the defending champion. — Chris from Latham, N.Y.
A: Thanks for the question. No, I don't believe that qualifying should be 100 percent on speed.
Expand the Chase, not the field
Q: Tom, if Dale Jr. misses the Chase this year, will NASCAR do like they did when he and Jeff Gordon missed the Chase in 2005 and expand from 12 to 14? Everyone knows they did this to help the most popular fan drivers get into the Chase. — Chris from Opelika, Ala.
A: Hello, there. No, I don't expect NASCAR to expand the Chase field. I'll tell you what would be a neat idea, though - expand the Chase to 12 races. Bristol would be the final race to make the Chase and California would be the first Chase race, which would generate a much-needed buzz.
Bristol will get better
Q: The drivers all seem to love the side by side racing at Bristol. The fans love side by side racing everywhere except Bristol. Is there anything that can be done to keep Bristol from becoming a mini-Michigan? We want our Bristol back. — Bob from Cape Canaveral, Fla.
A: The problem isn't Bristol. The Truck race was great; the Busch race was great. I think the track will get better with time and I think the Car of Tomorrow will, too.
Is Gordon slipping?
Q: Hey, Mr. Jensen. First of all, I just want to thank you for answering my questions and responding to my comments, and I hope you do it for this one also. I am a huge Jeff Gordon fan. He has had excellent momentum all year long except for the past two maybe three weeks, starting at the Glen. Do you think that the No. 24 team has become too relaxed when showing up to the track? Or do you think that the bad luck they have experienced over the past weeks is due to a WIN-or-nothing strategy they have been working toward? I strongly believe that they should race the same exact way they have all year because they have blown everyone out of the water all year. What do you think? Also, I KNOW Gordon will win the championship just because I have that much confidence in the team this year, but who do you think will be his strongest competition consistently throughout the Chase? Thanks for taking the time to read this! — Cody from Talladega, Ala.
A: Hi, Cody and welcome back. You make some interesting points. First off, I think the team was hurt by the six-race absence of Steve Letarte. I don't think they've been really hurt by bad breaks that much, and I don't think they've been hurt by strategy. Gordon made a simple driving error at Watkins Glen, and they got caught in a wreck at Bristol, but ran well in both places. As far as racing the same way, yes, I agree with you. I still think the title will come down to Gordon and Stewart this year, which should be a whale of a battle.
Chasing doesn't change racing
Q: Hey Tom, I hear some drivers saying that they hope they don't cause any accidents that may cause someone from getting into the Chase or winning a championship. I have heard that many times during the Race to the Chase. Doesn't this affect how the races are raced when these drivers are going out of there way to be nice on the track to the Chase runners or championship contenders? To me, that's like stepping into the ring and not giving full punches. Or am I completely all wet on this? Your view please... — Paul from LaPlata, Colo.
A: Thanks for the comments. I agree with your idea in theory, but I think it's hard to do anything about it. And remember, there have been plenty of crashes in Chase races in past years that have had an impact in how things went. I seem to recall Robby Gordon causing a wreck in New Hampshire a couple of years ago that took out some Chase competitors.
No No. 3 for Junior
Q: Is it true that Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't interested in the No. 38 car and doesn't want a 3 in his number at all? I think it's a shame if that's the case because it would be a way of honoring both his dad and his granddad but would be his own number, not to mention the fans would love it. — Betsy from Stuart, Va.
A: Welcome to FOX. Sources very close to Earnhardt Jr. told me Tuesday that he said that out of respect for his father's legacy that he does not want to race any number with a "3" in it. Could he change his mind? Sure he could. Will he? Not likely. But this deal has been complicated enough that anything still can happen.
Mayfield to the No. 88?
Q: Is Jeremy Mayfield going to get a ride for next season? Dale Earnhardt Inc. would have been smarter to go after Jeremy Mayfield than Regan Smith. I realize there aren't many available seats, but any chance of him getting the No. 88 or the No. 21? Thanks. — Bill from Atlanta, Ga.
A: Thanks for joining us. Jeremy Mayfield has made the Chase, and he's won races. I think he'll be fine. Personally, I haven't heard him mentioned for the No. 88, but that could be a great fit for both parties.
Kahne: Wait 'til Richmond?
Q: Hhhhhhheeeeeeeee's back! With Kasey Kahne having Friday's Busch win and the 2nd-place finish at Bristol, will that give him a positive push heading into the next few weeks since he has won at California and Richmond? — Matthew from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
A: Thanks for the question. Kasey is definitely optimistic. "You just don't realize until you have a bunch of bad races how hard it is to get momentum and confidence and things," said Kahne, during Tuesday's weekly NASCAR teleconference. "Then all you have to do is have one really strong weekend when we won the Busch race and then to run up front in the Cup race. That quickly you can feel good about your season again and feel good about what you're doing and the progress that the team is making." Personally, I like Kahne's Richmond chances better, only because his team is putting all its efforts into the Car of Tomorrow now.
COT suffers 'aero push'
Q: I thought the new track looked great, and you could tell by the ride that it was smoother. However, I think it has taken the PUNCH out of the Bristol race. I wonder if you will still hear the fans call Bristol the 'Best of the Best' in racing!? — Allison from Kingsport, Tenn.
A: Welcome to FOX. The track wasn't the problem. We had great NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Busch Series races at Bristol. That tells me the track isn't the issue as much as it was the Car of Tomorrow, which seems to suffer from the same — or worse — "aero push" as the old-style car does. In other words, the guy out front is impossible to pass.
Mikey made right move
Q: I was curious about what Michael Waltrip did at Bristol. Is what he did to help Jeff Gordon — ripping off Gordon's bumper under caution on the track — in any way legal? — Mark from Venice, Fla.
A: Hi, there. Yep, there was nothing wrong with what Waltrip did, at least in terms of the rules. Loose bodywork that could fly off at anytime is a danger, and I think Mikey did the right thing.
Lester sidelined
Q: I was wondering what has happened to Bill Lester in the Craftsman Truck series. I have not heard anything on why he is not driving the No. 15. Do you know if he will be driving for someone else? — Doris from Morganton N.C.
A: Here you go. According to Lester, it's a sponsor situation - or more specifically, the lack of one. "We are in an unfortunate situation whereby sponsorship commitments did not extend beyond the Nashville race... so until support is secured for me for any of the remaining races, it looks like I will be on the sidelines," said Lester on his web site. "It is a real shame to step out of a truck that we have all worked so hard to get pointed in the right direction. It seemed like momentum was finally coming our way. But even at the CTS level I understand that a team cannot run a program without sponsorship support. I have a great working relationship with the guys at Billy Ballew Motorsports and I am optimistic that I'll be back in the #15 for some of the remaining races, but right now we are all working hard on finding additional funding."
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