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.
Click here for Tom's columns.
Talladega 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 | California | Richmond | Loudon | Dover | Kansas
Thrilling finish
Q: Did you doubt me? Geez, Tom, I had to get back from a medieval studies conference before I could e-mail you...sorry to make you wait, LOL!! Was that a THRILLING ending or what? I screamed so loud I scared my cat--and he's deaf! — Jo from Rock Hill, S.C.
A: It's amazing how a great finish can make you forget how boring most of the race was, but it was a thriller, no doubt.
Not very racy
Q: The COT's are so equal, that there isn't much passing. This makes for some boring racing. What do you think? — Brad from Ferndale, Wash.
A: Really B-O-R-I-N-G.
Too early to tell
Q: Tom, are the motors of DEI/RCR blowing up due to the rpm's they are running at? — Mark from Hays, Kansas
A: No one will know until they get back to the shop and take them apart. Hendrick had a problem like this a few years back and it turned out to be a specific component failure.
Like oil and water
Q: How much oil are these engines carrying and why are the DEI/RCR teams having problems? — Larry from Fargo, N.D.
A: The engines have a dry-sump oil system, and I believe the tanks are 12-15 quarts, but I'll double-check for next week. No one knows why the DEI/RCR motors are blowing.
Kahne rues losing Riggs
Q: Hey, Tom! Happy Sunday! Kasey Kahne this week made an interesting comment that he didn't think that Evernham could get a better driver than Scott Riggs for the 3rd Gillett/Evernham team. It was a pretty snide comment--wonder if he is politicking for or against any of the rumored replacements or against allying with Petty Enterprises? Certainly it was an out-of-character remark for him... — Jo from Rock Hill S.C.
A: Hi, I was wondering when you were going to check in. I think Kasey Kahne thinks Riggs deserved better than he got and is unhappy to lose him as a teammate.
Out of top 35 up front
Q: Isn't there any concern among the cars who had to qualify on time about possible engine failures, broken parts etc? I remember in the spring race, a few cars who qualified in race trim didn't last very long. — Branden from Pittsburgh, Pa.
A: Great point, and opinions vary. I asked this question after qualifying yesterday and again this morning. Here are some of the responses. "We've got a few things in the car that are maybe a little more fragile then what everybody else has got, so our chances of finishing the race are down a little bit," said Dave Blaney.
"I feel confident with my setup going into the race," said Doug Richert, crew chief for Brian Vickers. "We qualified good and we have in the past with similar stuff, so there's no scare, really."
Who will still be running?
Q: So how many people are going to be on the lead lap ,and how nany cars will be on the track when the checkered flag waves? — Mark from Hays, Kansas
A: Thanks for the e-mail. If I knew the answers to what you're asking me, I'd be watching this race from Las Vegas, not Talladega, I promise! But ... I'm going to say 16 cars on the lead lap and 29 still running at the checkers.
Wait and see at MWR
Q: Dale Jarrett will probably run a limited schedule in 2008, but the No. 44 UPS Toyota is running a full schedule in 2008. Who do you think will be the other driver in the No. 44 UPS Toyota in 2008? — Chris from Latham, N.Y.
A: I think an awful lot depends on whether MWR runs three full-time cars or not. If they run three cars full-time, they'd obviously need a new driver. If they run two cars full-time and a third car part-time, it would make sense that David Reutimann would be the driver of choice for the races Jarrett doesn't run. But that's all strictly speculation at this point. We're going to have to wait a few more days to be sure.
Start your engines early
Q: OK, I live on the West Coast, and the start times for the races are insane. They should be starting around 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT. I love waking up early, catching the race and having the rest of the day to do something, but because NASCAR "thinks" they could catch more West Coast viewers if they start later kills it. The races starting later make all the races cut close on daytime if the track has no lights. Can't NASCAR go back to the races starting at noon? — David from Manteca, Calif.
A: Thanks for the question. I couldn't agree with you more. I wish every Sunday Cup race started at noon.
Why's Dale Jarrett 43rd?
Q: So qualifying was pretty neat. Nice to see the all go-or-go-homers so high up there. Dale Jarrett qualified 8th, but on the lineup, he is starting 43rd? Did something go wrong or is there another reason? — Mark from Venice, Fla.
A: Great question. The 43rd spot is always reserved for the past champion's provisional. Although Dale Jarrett obviously is a past champion, he made this race on speed, not by using a past champion's provisional. If the past champion's provisional is not used, the 43rd spot goes to the slowest of the go-or-go-home drivers, in this case, Jarrett. The rule really bit him this week.
Top 35 alive
Q: Can you explain something to me about qualifying at Talledega? AJ Allmendinger was ninth-fastest on the qualifying charts. Boris Said was 10th, and Sam Hornish Jr. was 13th. They all went home. I thought if you qualify in the top 20, you are automatically in the race? I just do not understand this? — Chris from Latham, N.Y.
A: Welcome. The top 35 in owner points are guaranteed spots in the field. Anyone outside the top 35 has to race his way into the field. There were 51 cars that tried to qualify. The top 8 qualifiers were all guys outside the top 35 in points. Positions 9-43 all went to guys in the top 35 in owner points. Allmendinger, as you correctly noted, was ninth fastest among the 51. But because the eight guys ahead of him were outside the top 35 in points also, he was a DNQ.
No further penalty
Q: Will the No. 2 get docked points for Kurt Busch's car being too low in qualifying? — Jodi from Shakopee, Minn.
A: Hello. I just checked with NASCAR here at the track and they said the only penalty Kurt Busch and David Ragan will receive is having their qualifying times disallowed, which drops them near the back of the field.
Cups faster than Trucks here
Q: Since NASCAR doesn't say much about rules, and I don't keep up that much with trucks, I have a question about qualifying at Dega. In the past, the Cup cars always ran two laps, the second being by far the fastest. Yesterday, most Trucks ran one lap and the few that ran two did not pick up much if any on the second lap. With the front end of the COT and the Trucks being almost the same, do you think the cars will run about the same? I guess it depends on the restrictor plate. I am not sure if the trucks run one or its size if they do. — Mike from Hooks, Texas
A: Good question. The trucks actually use a much smaller carburetor - 390 cubic feet per minute vs. 830 cfm for the Cup cars. The trucks use a slightly tapered plate, but it's not anywhere near as restrictive as the ones on the Cup cars. The Cup cars are a good bit faster than the trucks here.
Speed limit 220 mph
Q: If they didn't have the restrictor plate on the engine, what do you think the qualifying speed would be? — Samantha from Monticello, Ind.
A: Thanks for being with us. My best guess is that with the boxier Car of Tomorrow, with a normal, unrestricted engine, the pole speed would be 215-220 mph.
No favoritism
Q: I watched the first practice session at Talladega, and Jeff Gordon was bump-drafting. Larry Mac even stated that NASCAR has ordered all drivers not to do this. NASCAR's excuse for Denny Hamlin was that he was caught "on camera" bump-drafting, and that's why he was parked. Has NASCAR now taken their favoritism for certain drivers to another level including practice sessions? — Chris from Opelika, Ala.
A: Welcome. NASCAR got on Denny Hamlin's radio and told him to quit his aggressive bump drafting. He ignored them. That's why he got parked, period. As I have said many, many times before, if NASCAR truly wanted to play favorites, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would win 10 races a year because he is far and away the fan favorite.
Who much do drivers make?
Q: Any idea how much money a Nextel Cup driver makes in a year with salary and winnings? — Fritz from Oshkosh, Wis.
A: Hello and welcome to FOX. Exact compensation for drivers is a closely-guarded secret. Drivers receive a base salary, a percentage of winnings and royalties for souvenir sales. The mix is different for every driver. I can tell you Jimmie Johnson's NASCAR winnings last year were $15,952,125. Kyle Busch, who was 10th in points, won $6,077,377.
Partial schedule for Jarrett?
Q: Are there rumors abounding of any big Silly Season changes that may occur in the next few weeks? — Kelly from Americus, Ga.
A: Thanks for the question. Dale Jarrett has an announcement scheduled for next Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, at which time he's expected to announce he will run only a partial schedule next year.
Taller is better
Q: Will the taller drivers be at an advantage in being able to see over the wing this weekend at Talladega? Or are the seats adjusted so that everyone sits at about the same level? — M.B. from Pinebluff, N.C.
A: Good question. Yes, in the COT, taller drivers can see better.
Nose for bump-drafting
Q: With the COT, do you see more or less bump-drafting since they make the fenders same height front and back? Also will the cars suffer any damage during bump-drafting? — Tom from Cincinnati, Ohio
A: Another good question. There will be lots of bump-drafting on Sunday because the front and rear ends of the COTs do indeed match up. Word in the garage at Talladega this morning was that the noses are more durable than the rear fascias are. That's one of the things I'll be watching Sunday.
No qualifying changes planned
Q: Once again, there is a chance of rain predicted for qualifying day. Has there been any more discussion on "tweaking" the qualifying procedure so that the car with the pole (so far) does not go home? I have a suggestion. If qualifying is rained out, why could they not have the field set by practice speeds? Everybody would still have the same chance to "qualify" well since they would all know during practice what the chance of rain for qualifying time was. And this way, the better cars would still be in the race. They would still keep the top 35 rule, just have them line up in order of their respective practice speeds. I am sure there are reasons not to do this so maybe you could think it over a respond. — Ellen from McHenry, Ill.
A: Thanks for the question. No, there is no discussion of changing qualifying rules. If NASCAR were to set the field by practice speeds, then it would have had to let teams know prior to practice, because most of the time in practice is spent on car setup and trying to make the car race well, not just go fast.
Hamlin parked
Q: Why did Denny Hamlin get parked and sent to the "trailer"? What did he do? — Valerie from Virginia Beach, Va.
A: Welcome to FOX. Denny Hamlin was parked for ignoring NASCAR orders. Specifically, he was told to quit bump-drafting, but he ignored it.
Stremme to Evernham?
Q: Hey, Tom, any word on who'll be Dario Franchitti's sponsor next year? Also, I've heard David Stremme's name mentioned for Scott Riggs' replacement at Evernham or he could join Riggs at Haas and with Johnny Sauter and Jeff Green gone. Do you know anything more? Appreciate the time and enjoy the column! — CJ from Murfreesboro, Tenn.
A: Thanks for joining us. I asked Chip Ganassi on Wednesday about a sponsor for Franchitti, and he said that an announcement on both a sponsor and crew chief would be forthcoming in the next few weeks. Stremme could wind up at Evernham, from what I'm hearing.
Lowe's is going nowhere
Q: Just wanted to know what you have heard on the deal with Bruton Smith saying he will close the track if the city won't let him build a drag strip on property? Scubba Steve from Ellerbe, N.C.
A: For what it's worth, what's going on is a high-stakes poker game. Bruton Smith's company started grading land for a dragstrip before applying for the legally-required permits. In response, the local city council rezoned the property to forbid a drag strip. Like most fights, there's a lot of chest-puffing going on, but this one will be settled. Lowe's Motor Speedway is not going to be moved, torn down or abandoned. You can take that to the bank.
JV ready for varsity?
Q: Tom, there is much talk about Jacques Villeneuve's attempt to race at Talladega. I have been a longtime NASCAR fan, and I remember hearing a lot of the drivers saying Talladega is an easy place to drive. I think he will be OK. Heck, Dale Earnhardt had crashes at this track also, Mike Wallace will be a real player on Sunday, and the move to him was a great move by Yates for points and ability. What say you, Tom? — Don from Summer Set, S.D.
A: You get the first question of the weekend. Personally, I think Jacques Villeneuve is a great driver and all the feedback I've heard about him in testing and in Las Vegas has been extremely positive. Talladega is an easy track to drive — by yourself. It's monstrously complex navigating four-wide traffic at 190 mph. For that reason, I question the wisdom of starting JV here. It's not that he isn't good, it's just he has no real experience in these cars or dealing with the kinds of situations he'll see this weekend, if he makes the race. Mike Wallace could be a player on Sunday. He's a great plate racer. My only hesitation is that the Yates squad has been horrendous with the Car of Tomorrow this year — don't know how that will factor in this weekend.
Taking in intake infraction
Q: Tom, what's going on with Kyle Busch's manifold from the Busch race? If HMS has been racing that manifold since 2004 and presumably the 5 car has been inspected multiple times since then, why pick on it now? And will the ruling on this issue affect HMS's manifolds in the Cup series? Thanks! — Jo from Rock Hill, S.C.
A: Happy (almost) weekend, Jo! The word I got is that the manifold was too heavily ported and polished, which helps airflow. I'll talk to the Hendrick guys at the track Friday and get an update for you. This sounds to me exactly like the situation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1999, when Greg Biffle lost the championship because of an intake manifold he was caught with in midseason that team owner Jack Roush swore the team had run all year. Biffle was fined 120 points and lost the title that year by just 8 points.
No definition for "reasonable pace"
Q: Just to help us fans, et.al -- Isn't there a way of finding out Greg Biffle's actual speed while he was on the apron? I thought speeds were tracked to the thousands of a second on these cars. Why all the confusion on how fast Biffle was going when passed under caution. Can't we all get an idea of what "reasonable speed" would be? — Theresa from Cody, Wyo.
A: Great question. Here's the deal: NASCAR likes to leave itself wiggle room on rulings, so to the best of my knowledge, there is no hard and fast definition of what "reasonable pace" is. It's purely a judgment call by NASCAR officials, and in this case, I really believe they blew it. But I don't get a vote, and neither do the fans. The only vote that counts is NASCAR's, and they gave the win to Biffle and that's how it will stand in the record books.
Coast to coast
Q: NASCAR themselves stated that passing under yellow is not allowed. Part of that is for safety reasons. So when Biffle was maintaining an appropriate speed at the end of the "race" and was still passed by the 07, 25, and 48, why didn't NASCAR penalize those that broke the rule? — Mike from Baltimore, Md.
A: Thanks for being with us. The whole point is, no one thought Biffle was keeping an appropriate pace except Biffle's team and NASCAR. He killed the engine and was coasting and clearly wasn't keeping up with pace car. But after three hours of rain delays and ample controversy already, NASCAR didn't want any more, so they declared the race over.
Consistently inconsistent
Q: Do you think NASCAR will require all tracks involved in the Chase to install lights? If they did, the joke that happened at Kansas wouldn't happen next year. If the tracks can't/won't add lights, the race should be replaced and excluded from the Chase. Your opinion? — Mark from Shreveport, La.
A: Thanks for the question. No, NASCAR will not require all tracks in the Chase to add lights. Regardless of adding lights or not adding lights, I'd settle for consistency. The first Pocono race was called just past the halfway point after a rain delay of less than half an hour. Why did NASCAR wait 2 hours, 13 minutes and 46 seconds to restart in Kansas while they ended a non-Chase after less than 30 minutes of rain? It's these types of inconsistencies that fuel fan paranoia that NASCAR is playing favorites with certain teams.
|
