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Current Video:Wind Tunnel: Larry McReynolds|
Dave chats with NASCAR on FOX's Analyst Larry McReynolds the race from Homestead and what to expect in 2011.
Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)
Matt joins us from -- to homestead Miami speedway Larry thanks for your time at the at a -- -- what do what's your reaction. Do what you saw from Jimmy Johnson today and throughout the season. Well I think today was a lot like his entire season you would have to look at this 2010 season that 48 team and say it was a it was a lot a cup. Come from behind season. We think about a day. They won three of the first five races so what was going on the first five races but we have a winning moment car. And got rid of the wing and went back to the -- four. And it was three months before we saw that 48 car get back to victory lane in mid summer and then they dipped back down again but just as we anticipated. By the time we got to the ten races in the chase they looked like they were -- their game but they still were not the 48 car. What we saw all the past four seasons they had the pit crew issues and and they had the pit crew -- and he even look. They with that pit crew that was bottle at Phoenix. They got behind. -- over a couple pit stops. It one time up all the eleven car and overcome their problems there was not a big -- 48 but every time -- 48 car hit pit road Chad announced that group. They made the right adjustments and it was all said and done he was almost up there continue for the week. You make a good point I think none of the three title contenders were at their best today -- -- -- standard that late race. Miscommunication with Mike Ford or whether the veteran -- he talked about the good read the Johnson crew which was -- Jeff Gordon crew for most of the season with a couple bad stops and and Kevin Harvick. On pit road with the speeding ticket so was it mistakes -- performance but ultimately decided the championship. I think it was honestly a little a little bit above you know Denny Hamlin in my books -- He never really was able to overcome qualified back in the 37 position that's what got him in trouble over the air coming off turn two early in the race is when you start the back you could only dodge that bullet. So many weeks but when you think about those three teams. That's kind of been the tale for all three album in 2000 TN. When you look at those those three particular teams. They won seventeen of our races this year but I think the reason we had such a close championship battle coming in here day. Nobody was able to get on a hot streak and stay they're not the first 26 races are not at least can chase races. Is there any reason to think but anything's gonna change of it has been looked out the road -- I think it's gonna learn a lot from this in the eleven team. That's the Childress organization has been so often down in the last 45 years. I'm not sure we could yet declare them a perennial contender. You you see anything in terms of shifts the balance of power looking ahead to the future as we look at this incredible finest in the fortieth created. Well we know if you're gonna win the 2011 Sprint Cup Series championship you gonna have to drop through that 48 car I don't care how they've run at the beginning of the season middle of season you know we get the -- They're the mean you've apathy -- they got sick here 365. Days ago and message you know a lot. That eleven team they're going to be the group could possibly be throngs that 48 team. But again in the forty did eleven thing was very open down all year long -- started the season off the eighth inning looked like they knew -- tires and wheels a race car had. What I'm seeing here -- -- Keep your round Carl Edwards and that 99 group here they in the season they go -- a seventy race winless streak and they in the season with two consecutive wins. -- -- today tonight. How would say the 99 car could be a player but we're just glad to get the 2011. I'm sure the bases surprises for both directions what's at season's car. Carl Edwards so -- always stood. Pretty good the you defense team may well be ready to step up and challenge Johnson. Next year before the city are a couple big picture questions for the NASCAR saying the CEO Brian France had his annual season's finale conversation with the media. Triggering lots of speculation about shorter races maybe changes to the chase. He caught my attention when he said quote I wanna see the Nationwide Series have its very own identity. Very similar to what college football does for the NFL that's a great analogy for us on quote my first thought. Reinforce what multitudes of emails I get from people pointing out the same thing or some variation. NFL players don't go back and play college ball but then Bryant -- NASCAR still wants quote cup involvement. In the Nationwide Series for obvious reasons Saturday took a -- -- -- -- how they get it. Both ways how do you think NASCAR points to give the series it's own identity without kicking out the cup drivers. Well I mean the first thing on a distress is is it this will be only my opinion and a lot is diluted speculation on just different Nuggets have heard throughout the brought -- over the last few weeks. I think possibly the plan day. Is they're not gonna lock -- Sprint Cup Series drivers from racing in the Nationwide Series I don't think he'll leave and limit the number of race you can run a limited number of -- what I am here. It may be something just a simple if you were in the top 25 or thirty or whatever. Of Sprint Cup Series points you can still race in the Nationwide Series but she will not receive any driver points the team we still receive all -- points. That would allow. People like Reed Sorenson just an -- guard Trevor banged up possibly contend for the Nationwide Series championship and that's possibly -- great balance because we know. That we have fans at short for the Nationwide Series race that definitely -- Kevin Harvick. -- some of those guys race there but I'm not sure regardless of -- in the championships. NASCAR exactly NASCAR's -- what I consider a huge change in the right direction. Like starting to make the race cars looked like street corners and it is called after all stock car racing. How far down the road do you think they're prepared to go with that I mean might they go so far that -- -- would agree to Theresa Camaro against the most things but in the challengers. Might they go to wide dream which is that. I could look at four untraded test -- from a hundred yards away and tell which was the -- which was the Toyota etc. it's that are. Well I think Dave that they have a short term plan and I think they have a long term plan and there's no question that they realize. That they may be have alienated some of our fans that -- the hardcore NASCAR fans that they didn't care what driver. -- just pulled perform or they pulled for Chevrolet while they pulled for dogs -- they were manufacturer. Fans and we certainly have lost that over the years. But I think the new Nationwide Series cars is in the direction of where they're -- we're gonna have a slight change coming in 2011 to the Sprint Cup Series car. They're gonna fill that cavity underneath the front bumper. It still have a split -- But very little lob exposing we'll have the deal those footer Bryce is what I've been towed. As we move ahead to 2012. Absolutely another step in the direction of giving the Sprint Cup Series cars more again at the and I and I think they'll keep married -- that. To possibly get back to where you were talk about a -- ever get all the way back to where we work 1520 years ago but I know they're moving that direction. We cannot swept the season and without asking about NASCAR's most popular driver Dale Earnhardt junior despite the misery of another terrible season. Because of that miserable season yet another Dale Earnhardt junior crew chief change watched. Has begun is there anything new left to say about this any news suggestions you can never Kendrick drugs how to how to fix this three year old problem. Well I love doing wind tunnel with -- but if I had that answer. I probably wouldn't be sitting here right now I'd feel -- plane flying home will be -- problem winning have to do any more broadcasting work anymore -- you know I think we've seen all kidding aside. With Dale Earnhardt junior every sits this new car came about and it's almost -- you think about it. Whether it was just coincidental that's about the same time he made the move to Hendrick Motorsports. But this car is tough to read it's tough for all of the drivers to read day. And I think Dale Earnhardt junior struggles. Given feedback on their race car and I don't care if you put Chad can Nelson stable -- In all -- the the crew Chiefs over there -- they don't get get -- back it up about their race car. You can't fix the -- Garnett there are days that they rolling the racetrack. Whether spot only you know what go back the Martinsville Virginia few weeks ago they run Wales so. I don't know that change in crew chief is the answer Dale Earnhardt junior. Can steal driver race car you don't win the number of cup races he won it came Nationwide Series championships and not don't have travel race car but he deftly struggles given feedback on this car the way it is now. -- -- Reynolds as always we appreciate your insider Todd thank you very much more for an. -- now that's only -- in a half days until the 2011 Daytona 500.