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
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Kurt still in it
Q: Is Kurt Busch eliminated from the championship with today's result? — Steve from Pahrump, Nev.
A: Not at all. Jimmie Johnson was 39th here last year and won the title.
Watching on TV at the track
Q: Can the pit crew/crew chief read the in-car telemetry like that shown on TV? — Larry from Hueytown, Ala.
A: They have TV's in the pit boxes and can read it off there.
No lucky 13th
Q: In past years, the 11th-place person has received a $1 million prize. Does the person in 13th place this year get the same prize or did they remove this provision with the addition of two cars to the Chase? — Eric from Grantsville, Utah
A: They removed the $1 million provision.
Ray of light
Q: Hey, Tom, Happy Sunday! I'm curious about Ray Evernham's role in the new Gillett/Evernham alliance. It seems that his teams are already struggling with the "too many chiefs" structure of his teams — team director, head engineer, etc. and nobody being responsible for the final decisions. Now he's apparently going to become a sort of "super crew chief" for all three of his teams? Won't that just make the confusion on those three teams even greater? — Jo from Rock Hill, S.C.
A: Happy Sunday to you, too! Great question. Actually, I think it will help a lot. Ray Evernham has a brilliant mind, and this will allow him to focus on what he does best — make his cars go fast. I see great things ahead for this team.
Engines get better for Junior
Q: Do you think that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have the same engine problems that he is having now at DEI at HMS next year? Do you think that he will win a race this season? — Sarah from Boone, N.C.
A: Thanks for the question. I do not see Dale Earnhardt Jr. having engine problems next year. He could well win before the season is out.
Busch Series may run without sponsor
Q: Is the No. 29 car still ahead in the Busch owners points? And who will be the title sponsor for the Busch Series next year? — Bud from Faribault, Minn.
A: Hello. Yes, the No. 29 has a 40-point lead in the NASCAR Busch Series points right now. There might not be a title sponsor for the Busch Series next year. NASCAR is working hard at securing a series sponsor, but might not be able to find one. If they don't, they'll run without one, NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter said yesterday at New Hampshire.
Banquet heading to the strip?
Q: I live in Las Vegas and think it would be so cool to see the cars going down the strip. — Mary from Las Vegas, Nev.
A: The NASCAR Nextel Cup banquet is not moving to Las Vegas. Not this year, not next year, not anytime soon. Again, that's per NASCAR.
Chase tiebreakers
Q: Now that the Chase is on, will drivers still earn bonus points for victories? Are tie-breakers the same for the seeding? — Joe from Louisville, Ga.:
A: Thanks for the question. No, there are no bonus point for winning in the Chase. Yes, the tie-breakers remain the same, but they are based on the whole season, not just the Chase races.
Practice after Truck race?
Q: Why couldn't the Cup practices have been held after the Craftsman Truck race because the weather was great?! — Matthew
A: Thanks for the question. In theory, Cup practice could have been held after the USAC race, the NCTS race and the other supporting race that ran Saturday afternoon. But it would have involved keeping a few hundred crew people here for a minimum of four hours after they were scheduled to leave. Many of the drivers — and even the crew people — are scheduled extremely tightly, with fan and sponsors meetings, etc. Plus, a lot of guys went to Boston to watch the Red Sox-Yankees game.
Engine, not crew, issues
Q: Thinking of Junior and the problems that he has had with equipment failures this year; to what extent does the burden of responsibility fall on, the crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., to ensure that the equipment is stout enough to withstand the rigors of the race? The fan-based blame is pointing at DEI, but if the crew chief carries that responsibility, I'd be nervous that the problems the No. 8 team is facing this year might follow them to their new HMS home next year in the person of Tony Eury Jr. — Witty from New Denmark
A: Welcome to FOX. Given that virtually every DEI driver has had multiple engine failures this season, I blame very little of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s engine woes on Tony Eury, Jr. and instead say the team's motor department has issues.
Kahne can't wait for Bud
Q: Do you think Kasey Kahne is excited to have Budwiser on his car next year? He has been working with Dodge most of the time he's been racing. I am disappointed that his car will have Budweiser on it next year, being a fan of Kasey's, I like Dodge a lot better. — Ana from Atlanta, Georgia
A: Hello and welcome to race day. Yes, I think Kasey Kahne is very excited about going with Budweiser this season.
Wait on the 28
Q: With Dale Earnhardt Jr. apparently going to drive the No. 88 car next year, what's going to be the new car number for Yates? Is Yates going to bring the No. 28 out of retirement, or could Travis Kvapil use Hendrick's old 25, which apparently Rick doesn't want? — Steven from Milwaukee
A: Good question, Neither Doug nor Robert Yates is here this weekend, but I'm trying to get an answer on the number. If I find out later today, I'll post it.
Sponsor impact on Top 35?
Q: There are lots of sponsors being left in the dust due to the 35 rule. Dont they carry any weight with NASCAR to get 35 rule changed? It sure needs to. The racing has changed a lot in the past few years. — JLP from Lancaster, Texas
A: Thanks for the comments. As I've said many, many times already this year, when you have 50 cars try to qualify for a 43-car field, no matter what format you use, seven cars will be DNQ's. And those seven will ALWAYS think the current system is unfair and will want to change it. It's not like unsponsored cars are racing their way into the field these days.
No refunds
Q: How much does it cost a team to enter a race, and if qualifying is rained out, do they get their money back, like Boris Said at Daytona/The Glen? — Dan from San Diego, Calif.
A: Thanks for the question. The teams pay a $3,025 inspection fee to enter each race, according to the NASCAR entry blank. That money is nonrefundable in case of a rainout, NASCAR officials told me this morning.
Not making his Mark?
Q: In talking about Dale Earnhardt Inc., what's happened to Mark Martin? Regan Smith had a good qualifying run today, but since Martin went to DEI, his finishes aren't like they were with Ginn. — Tom from Indianapolis, Ind.
A: Mark Martin has competed in four Nextel Cup races since DEI acquired Ginn Racing. He was sixth in the Brickyard 400 and ninth at Pocono, both solid finishes. He broke a motor in Michigan — it isn't just Junior who's suffered this year — and was 21st at Richmond. He really hasn't run too badly; he just hasn't run that much since the sale.
COT conversation
Q: Enjoy your column. Didn't the powers to be think about asking the drivers what they thought on the Car of Tomorrow? There are not many who like it, and Elliott Sadler said he couldn't see any cars ahead of him while testing at Talladega. It seems dangerous to me. — Jean from Dallas, Texas
A: Excellent point. I can promise you, though, that NASCAR has gone out of its way to listen to everyone's opinion on the COT. And they probably got 43 different opinions about it, too. In the end, NASCAR has to do what it thinks is best, not what's most popular. I do think the COT will prove safer. Does that mean it's without its flaws and critics? No, of course not.
Toyotas don't share
Q: It looks like Dave Blaney is the most consistent driver in a Toyota so one would think that the way he likes his car set up is what may work best in a Toyota. Do teams use information like this to improve how they set up cars? And isn't part of being a good driver knowing how to set up a car through communication with the crew chief? I think Blaney has the qualities and hope he continues to have a ride. — nascar fan from W. Cola, S.C.
A: Glad you could join the party. Blaney is an experienced pro and a fine driver. The dilemma for the Toyota teams is that since all seven Toyotas are outside the top 35 in owner points, they have to compete with each other to race their way into the field on Friday. As a result, they share little or no information, which is the complete opposite of how they work in the Craftsman Truck and Busch Series, where they all help each other.
Is night right vs. NFL?
Q: Why aren't there more night races during the NFL season? When my team is playing, I would rather watch NFL instead of NASCAR. — Tom from Cincinnati, Ohio
A: Thanks for the question. I think the reason there aren't more night races in the Chase is they end up competing with football anyway, whether college (Saturday) or pro (Monday).
Gordon shorted; Chase should be strong
Q: Not a big fan of the Chase. One reason is the way they seeded it. Gordon 300+ points ahead and goes in 20 points back. And how bad will it hurt the ratings with Jr. not there? — Howard from Killeen, Texas
A: Thanks for the first question of the 2007 Chase. I absolutely agree with you that Gordon is getting the short end of this deal. As far as the ratings, it didn't seem to hurt too bad in 2005, when Earnhardt missed the Chase. Why? Because he's still racing these last 10 weeks, even if he isn't eligible for a championship.
Is DEI blowing up?
Q: I have had this question for a while, but after the race at Richmond, I really want to try to understand. How can the same company (DEI) have comparable drivers (2007 season summary only) in the No. 1 and 8 rides, and the 8 car seems to have the engine problems? Little E is a heck of driver. I just don't understand why his ride seems to blow engines and the No 1 doesn't. — Mike from Blue Springs, Mo.
A: You ask the question the entire Earnhardt nation wants to know. In fairness to DEI, though, all of its drivers this season - Earnhardt, Aric Almirola, Paul Menard, Mark Martin and Truex - either in practice or in races lost engines, so I don't think the problem was confined solely to the No. 8. But, yes, something is big-time wrong at that team this year.
Talladega tweaking
Q: Tom, why is NASCAR slowing down the COT so much at Talladega? With only half the field cracking 190 mph on the second day of testing, it seems like they are being too conservative. Fans already have mixed emotions about the new car. I just can't understand why they would slow down the COT that much when it is supposed to be safer than the current rides, and the drivers hit 200 mph at California and Atlanta. Please ease my anxiety. I fear Talladega is becoming another victim of NASCAR's well-intended but misguided policy changes. P.S. Great job with your columns, very insightful. — Jon H. from Denver, Colo.
A: Thanks for the encouraging words. What NASCAR did at Talladega this week was try several different aero and engine packages in hopes of finding the best combination of safe racing and competitive racing. It has nothing to do with slowing the cars do, per se. They are looking for the best overall configuration to produce a safe, exciting race and for that I applaud them. And besides, if any fans at home can watch a race at Talladega on TV and tell the difference between 189 mph and 192 mph, they're smarter than I am!
Money, yes, but No. 1 with manufacturer means more
Q: Tom, how much of a determining factor do you think money was in the Gibbs switch to Toyota next year? We all know that NASCAR is a sport one day of the week and a business six days so do you believe that Toyota shelled out large bucks for JGR to switch? — DC from Fargo, N.D.
A: Thanks for the question. Yes, big dollars played a huge part in the Gibbs-to-Toyota move. You know what was even bigger, though? Gibbs gets to be the unquestioned No. 1 team at Toyota, the absolute top dogs. At GM, they were only co-No. 1 with Hendrick, RCR and DEI and that was never ever going to change. Time will tell if it was a brilliant move, a bad one or something in between.
Coming attractions
Q: When is the 2008 official schedule going to be released? What will the changes be? — Austin from Heber City, Utah
A: Great question. I asked a senior NASCAR official that very question at Richmond last week and he told me that NASCAR and a couple of the tracks were buttoning up the final sanctioning agreements and the new schedule could come very soon. The only major change is that the off-week between the first California race and Las Vegas will be moved later in the season.
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