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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New format closer
Q:With the new format of the chase do you think that the championship will be closer than in the past or will there be a run away champion this year? — Trinidy from Americus, Ga.
A: I think it's going to come down to Hendrick vs. Tony Stewart and I think it will be close. We'll see.
Foam on fire
Q: Is there foam on the passenger side door? It looked like foam or something burning on the No. 41 and No. 42 cars. It does not look like the tail pipe. If so, are there any risks for the driver? — Tom from Cincinnati, Ohio
A: Yes, there is foam in the passenger-side door. NASCAR has worked since the first COT race to minimize it melting or catching fire and throwing off fumes.
Not lucky enough
Q: Oh my goodness - Kurt Busch has car damage, Kevin Harvick is spouting water (?) from his engine, and my man Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in 2nd place....think we'll see the "miracle" that Junior needs to make the chase? I can't wait for this red flag stop to be over!!! — Monica from Clifton Park, N.Y.
A: It's not looking so good for Earnhardt now, as Harvick and Busch appear OK.
Throwing away the race
Q: What happened to Hamlin? He was running up front, went in to pit and came out down in the 20's. The announcers never mentioned it. Please explain. — Candy from Wichita, Kan.
A: As it turns out, Hamlin attempted to throw his water bottle out the window and hit the kill switch on his steering wheel by accident. It took a bit of time to get it restarted.
From No. 8 to 28?
Q: Hey, Tom, I read that you said Yates no longer has any control in the 28, and I read that on Aug 31, Hendrick added the No. 28 to that patent list request. So could it be true that Jr. could be in the 28? I know it's been remembered most for Davey Allison, but I'd love to see Jr get a championship with that number that Davey so close to getting. — CJ from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
A: Yes, the No. 28 could well be the number Earnhardt runs next year, though it's not final.
No claim on the No. 28
Q: Do you think now that Doug Yates is in control, he will part with the 28? And who will sponsor Travis Kvapil in the 88 next year? — Bud from Faribault, Minn.
A: Thanks for the questions. Yates no longer controls the No. 28 anymore and has no claim on it. And Doug told me this afternoon that the team doesn't have any sponsors signed for next year.
Labonte meshes with new leader
Q: What Bobby Labonte has done in the last few weeks is awesome. Two top-10 finishes and an 11th place. After watching the 43 car since the age of 5, I've gotten used to finishes in the high teens and low twentys. What my question is what differences has Doug Randolph brought to the team to get them closer to contention? And if this success continues, will he be back in 2008? — Todd from Ft. Eustis, Va.
A: Welcome. I don't think Doug Randolph has brought anything radically different to the team, I just think it's a case of he and Labonte have hit it off and are communicating in a way that each understands the other. That translates into better, smarter adjustments in the middle of the race. Same thing with Kurt Busch and Pat Tryson. They trust each other, encourage each other and believe in each other.
Bad publicity impact logo decision?
Q: How much do you feel the fans impacted the agreement with Sprint and AT&T? I feel that the fans have made some good points that have a dollar value behind them that will outweigh the logo rift between the two companies. — Don (from Summer Set, S.D.
A: Great question. While it's impossible to put a dollar value on fan pressure - or media pressure, for that matter - all parties involved knew that the publicity around this dispute was a very bad thing indeed.
Parking the No. 25
Q: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has said many times that he wants a number with the number 8 ,but the numbers 5 and 25 are very dear to Rick Hendrick so if Casey Mears is moving to the 5, who is getting the 25? — Sara from Slatington, Pa.
A: Thanks for being here today. No one from Hendrick will run the No. 25 in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series next season.
No Busch Chase
Q: I was watching a pre-race show, and they discussed how the championship for the Busch series has been over with for a long time. They commented there is a need for a Chase format like they are doing in the Cup series. I am a fan of the Busch series and am curious. Does NASCAR have this on their radar screen? — Kelly from Americus, Ga.
A: Welcome. No, the Chase format is not under consideration for the Busch Series. The last time I asked NASCAR why, they said that they wanted to keep the Chase format unique to the Cup series to help differentiate it from the other series.
Martin in favor of Martin in the No. 8
Q: I have nothing against Mark Martin, but I wonder if they asked Martin Truex Jr. if he wanted to drive the No. 8 next season? I would have liked to see him drive the No. 8, after all he is the top dog of DEI. — Patti from Elgin, Texas
A: Welcome to Fox. Martin Truex, Jr. said Friday that he's in favor of Mark Martin driving the No. 8 next season. "Mark has a lot of respect from the fans and the media, people in the garage. Just everybody in general," Truex said. "Everybody really has a lot of respect for Mark and what he's been able to do for the sport. I think the fans will be easy on him. I think his chances of not making people mad by getting in it are a lot better than somebody else's would be so I think they'll be fine. I think they will welcome him. I know I do and hopefully everybody else will too."
Dale Jr.'s Chase chances
Q: What is the minimum place for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to have a shot to get into the Chase? In other words, what place or better must he finish and where must Kevin Harvick finish? — Tom from Cincinnati, Ohio
A: Howdy, bud! According to NASCAR, the lowest Earnhardt can finish at Richmond is fifth to still have a chance at making the Chase. He must also lead the most laps and Harvick has to finish 43rd. Earnhardt can also finish fourth and lead one lap, or finish third and lead no laps and still qualify – as long as Harvick finishes last. On the other end of the spectrum, if Earnhardt wins Saturday night and leads the most laps, he'll clinch a spot if Harvick finishes 33rd or worse or if Kurt Busch finishes 37th or worse. If Earnhardt wins but doesn't lead the most laps, he'll need a Harvick finish of 34th or lower or a Busch finish of 39th or lower.
Post-race penalty into the Chase
Q: How would NASCAR address a situation with a Chase car that failed post-race inspection at Richmond? If a scenario played out with Dale Jr. 25 points behind Kevin Harvick at the end of the Richmond race, but Harvick's car failed post-race inspection, would Dale Jr. then make the Chase if Harvick was penalized more than 25 points? — Brandon from West Lafayette, Ind.
A: Thanks for the question. Understand the odds of what you're asking are roughly the same as being struck by a meteor tonight, but here's what would have to happen. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. would have to make up at least 103 points on Kevin Harvick. Hypothetically, that would happen if Earnhardt finished fifth (155 points) and Harvick finished 37th (52 points). The odds of that aren't good, as Earnhardt has finished in the top five in only six of 25 races this season and Harvick has only finished 37th or worse once this season, a 41st at Martinsville in the spring.
NASCAR only inspects one car that finishes worse than fifth in each race. So Harvick's car would have a 1 in 38 chance of being chosen for a random inspection. Then it would have to fail inspection. Then NASCAR would have to decide that the inspection failure was punishable by a fine of more than 25 points. But if every one of those things happened exactly like that - and they won't - yes, Junior would be elevated into the Chase.
Reason for the impound?
Q: What's the logic behind having an impound race this weekend? Is it just to challenge the teams or is there an actual reason? Thanks Tom. Go Dale Go! — Jeff from Richmond, Va.
A: Thanks for the question. Prior to the 2006 season, NASCAR was considering making every race an impound race, under the theory that it would save teams a lot of money by eliminating qualifying setups. They have subsequently scaled that way back. As far as this specific race, I'll try to get an answer from NASCAR after the garage opens at 3 p.m.
Jacques and roll
Q: How did Jacques Villeneuve make out in his testing to be a Truck and possibly a Cup driver? I guess he did well enough to be cleared to test the Car of Tomorrow next week at Talladega, but what's the talk in the garage? — Rick from Burlington, Ontario, Canada
A: Thanks for the question. I think the buzz on Villeneuve is quite positive. He'll still need NASCAR approval before he can race at the Cup level, but I think there's a strong level of confidence that he'll do an excellent job.
Hendrick owner points answers
Q: When Dale Earnhardt Jr. moves next year, will he have Kyle Busch's points or will he have Casey Mears'? Thanks for all the answers to everyone's questions. — Marilyn from Rantoul, Ill.
A: Welcome to FOX. Casey Mears will have the owner points from the No. 5 next year and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have them from what is now the No. 25, according to NASCAR.
Time is now for Nemechek
Q: Do you think that Joe Nemechek will drive the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet for the rest of the season and all of 2008? — Chris from Latham, N.Y.
A: Good question. Right now, he's on a five-race deal, and a lot of it will hinge on how he does in those races.
Who builds Toyota engines?
Q: Hey Tom, enjoy the column. My question is where do the engines for the Toyota teams come from? , JGR's Mark Cronquist said BDR is the only team building Toyota in-house engines. Do the other teams (MWR, TRB) get their engines from BDR? Also, next year, will there be any Toyota teams that get their Toyota engines from JGR like with HOF, if they do make the switch? — Joe from Fresno, Calif.
A: Hello and welcome. Toyota builds engines for Michael Waltrip Racing and Red Bull Racing. Bill Davis Racing builds their own and next year, Joe Gibbs Racing will build their own and supply engines for Hall of Fame Racing if, as expected, they switch, too.
Chase tiebreaker
Q: What would the tie breaker be if Dale Jr. and Kevin Harvick were somehow tied after Richmond? — Joey from McAlester, Okla.
A: Welcome to the last race of the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup regular season. Harvick would get it on the basis of having more race victories than Earnhardt. If they were tied in race victories, the tiebreaker would be number of second-place finishes, then third-place, etc. That's also how the drivers with the same number of victories will be seeded in the Chase.
Roof hatch optional
Q: Tom, Mikey had what could have been a very bad accident due to the fire. The rescue crews had a very difficult time getting him out of the car. Whatever happened to the rooftop escape hatch that he wanted a few years ago and showed off after his win at Talladega? He sure could have used that on Sunday. I really enjoy your column. — Mary Lou from Harrisburg, Pa.
A: Glad you enjoy the column! The escape hatch is optional, not mandatory. And unless something makes a car faster, teams don't use it if they aren't required to, even if it's a safety item.
RCR on hold
Q: I think that seeing the No. 31 car with a blank hood makes a bigger statement than having the AT&T logo. I know the 'grandfather clause' was put in place with RCR to prevent them from losing a sponsor so tell me, how is that working out for Childress? Also, has it had an impact starting a fourth full-time Cup team? — Sally B. from Davison, Mich.
A: Thanks for the questions. No doubt, until the AT&T mess is resolved, it's going to influence what RCR can do going forward. Right now, I'm sure there are sponsor plans they can't finalize until they know what will happend with AT&T.
Impounding COT's
Q: Tom, Thanks for all you do for the fans. My question is still the same now as it was in February. Will NASCAR impound COT cars after certain races starting in 2008 to see who has what advantage over the other makes and end the dominance of one mfg? I know this is what the COT is suppose to do while at the same time it does not appear that things are going to change with the COT full-time in 2008 unless they do something else to make double sure everyone is equal. Agree or disagree and bring back Gary Nelson please! — Don from Summer Set, S.D.
A: Great question. NASCAR has impounded at least two cars after every COT race so far this year, the race winner and one chosen at random. They will continue to do so for the rest of the season. The impounded cars are taken back to the NASCAR R&D center and thoroughly scrutinized before being returned to the teams.
Q: Why doesn't NASCAR revamp the schedule? I know you can't do anything about Mother Nature, but they need shorter seasons. It's different racing nowdays, and more of the "regulars" are leaving the sport because it's just too much time away from home/family. — Jean from Callas, Texas:
A: Welcome to FOX. The NASCAR schedule, like the cost of racing, is something that's grown out of control. I absolutely agree it is too long, but NASCAR will never cut it back as long as sponsors and advertisers pay for it. Here's one solution — instead of eliminating races, shorten the track days and mandate that all but a handful of the biggest events be limited to two days, period. It would be much easier on crews and families.
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