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After short week, time for something different
Around the track
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The bigger teams were pretty much already prepared and so the affect of racing on Monday simply took a day off away. I am sure they would have loved to have been home with their families and friends having a BBQ or something to celebrate Memorial Day, but Mother Nature obviously had other ideas.
Most of you realize that the bigger teams with their bigger budgets have a number of these COT cars in their stable, but the Joe Nemecheks, Dave Blaneys and Scott Riggs of the world probably have to use the same car from Charlotte on Monday, that they are using this weekend at Dover. So as you can clearly see, losing a day in the shop impacts the smaller teams the most.
The other piece of good news for the smaller teams is that other than some minor damage here or there, the only real substantial damage coming out of Monday's race was from the No. 29 car of Kevin Harvick. So it's not like some of the smaller teams lost a car in that race Monday. Remember this, when the race was finally called Monday due to rain, there were 42 cars on the track.
So the bottom line, losing Monday to the race really didn't put anyone in a major bind, it just took away an off-day for most teams.
Dover this weekend is really a type of track we haven't been to this year. Obviously being a one-mile concrete race track, there isn't a lot out there like it. You tend to believe Kyle Busch will be strong come Sunday. He's the defending champion of the race. Dover has always been a good race track for Kasey Kahne, too. He always seems to run well there.
Keep your eye on the Stewart-Haas organization. Both Tony and Ryan Newman run well at Dover. Obviously you can't overlook Roush-Fenway Racing. They always run strong at Dover and quite frankly, the whole organization needs a good run this weekend.
There are 14 races until the 2009 Chase starts and I am beginning to see some desperation with some teams. Obviously the No. 88 car is mired well back in the points, but with the changes Rick Hendrick made earlier this week, it will be interesting to see what happens with them. Brian Whitesell is making the calls this weekend and then starting at Pocono, Lance McGrew will move from the No. 25 to the No. 88 for the rest of the season.
That bunch doesn't need to worry about making the Chase right now. That bunch doesn't need to focus on winning a race right now. That team needs to simply focus on running up front again and becoming competitive.
The No. 33 car with Clint Bowyer started the season so strong for such a new team. They were even second in the points not that long ago. Unfortunately, neither the No. 33 nor any of his three Richard Childress Racing teammates are running really good right now. For instance, the top finishing RCR car in the Coke 600 was Jeff Burton clear back in 25th. Those teams have to be concerned about what's going on with their performance now.
One final thing I wanted to mention is that Dover has finally re-done pit road and now there are 43 pit stalls there. No longer will anyone have to share when the race begins. Now you might not think that would be such a big deal for the bigger named teams that normally start up front, but remember it hasn't been that long ago when Jimmie Johnson, our three-time champion, spun out in qualifying and had to share a pit stall with the No. 4 car.
We have no business going to any race track in this day and age where we don't have 43 pit stalls. So I am just glad that Dover has finally rectified that situation.
FOX race analyst Larry McReynolds has more than 25 years of NASCAR experience as a mechanic, crew chief and broadcaster. He and his fellow Crew Chief Club members take you behind the wall at www.crewchiefclub.com.
"How to Become a Winning Crew Chief" is on bookstore shelves, or you may order your own autographed copy from www.DWStore.com.
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