Gas 'n Go: So far it's a year of surprises
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Jeff Hammond: I'm looking at a minor improvement. I believe the drivers need a little something. Unfortunately, you can't depend on Goodyear or the car to give you that "little bit" right now. As we move forward, we have to be willing to say, "OK, what's the next thing we can do to make the car better?" Naturally we don't want to turn right around and make them aero-dependant again.
Again, I see this as a minor adjustment that might improve things 5 percent to 10 percent. The other part of the bump stops that I want to bring into play is that I have heard some of the horror stories of parts being broken because of them, and that concerns me. You're putting a lot of stress and strain on that up front on what is carrying a 3,400-pound race car. I am just afraid that eventually, this is something that is going to come back to haunt us.
I know of teams that have had problems with this new car and chassis and its over-torqueing and they've had some mechanical compromises. Now, we haven't had total failures, but we have broken some of the frames and down tubes.
The other reason I am opposed to bump stops is I believe we are over-working the tires. We are basically making the tires the springs, and we expect Goodyear to be too much of the compensator and the engineer in this area. Then when something goes wrong, we are too quick to point fingers at Goodyear and say, "Well, it's their fault."
Springs are designed to carry the load of an automobile. That's the way it's always been ever since Detroit decided we needed to put springs underneath a car. It's just something I think we should take a look at and go back to what made NASCAR successful. I don't know, maybe I am a little too old school.
Rodney C. from Sonoma, Calif.: Hi Jeff, keep up the good work. A while back you said something that I have been quoting ever since — "Don't tell me what you've done, tell me what you are doing." Is that the correct way to say it? It is a great way to get people to shut up and get things done! Thanks.
| Speed Mail Jeff Hammond |
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Jeff Hammond: Yes, that's a great way to put it. Living in the past doesn't fix anything. It's what you are doing in the present. I feel it's a way to get people re-focused and motivated. Sure, it would be great to live on our laurels and what we did in the past. However, it's not what makes this country great and what makes our sport great. To steal Toyota's theme — moving forward.
I think it's important with all the things we are doing right now. We're in a metamorphosis right now with the transition of this new car. There are a lot of new changes and improvements at race tracks. There are changes behind the wheel. We are simply going to continue to see that. I have said it before and will continue to say it: "2008 will be the year of surprises."
I really believe that. At the end of it, you, me and everyone will say, "Wow, I didn't see that coming." I guarantee you right now, and the Vegas odds-makers will back this up — no one saw it coming that Ryan Newman would win the Daytona 500 in February. No one saw Carl Edwards winning two races in a row. And regardless of how good he is at Bristol, not a lot of people could see Jeff Burton coming through to finish the deal there and win that race. Again, this is the year of surprises and it sure is exciting.
FOX race analyst Jeff Hammond led Darrell Waltrip to two of DW's three Winston Cup championships as his crew chief. They also teamed to win the 1989 Daytona 500.
For autographed copies of Jeff Hammond's book "Real Men Work in the Pits" plus magnets, hats and more, check out www.dwstore.com.
For photos and appearances, visit Jeff's Web site www.jeffhammond.com.
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