Another year-ender: Best and worst from e-mailers (NASCAR.com)
December 29, 2009
You will recall that I became so inundated with (mostly) interesting and sometimes abusive e-mail by July of 2009 that I decided to make my annual Best and Worst of E-mail column a bi-annual affair.
So without further ado, here are some of the best and worst e-mails I received from NASCAR fans throughout the second half of the year, along with the usual sarcastic retorts from yours truly. As usual, last names have been removed to protect the innocent and many sentences have been eliminated to limit the rambling. Just remember, don't take any of this too personally. I certainly attempt not to!
I always like to start this off with a positive e-mail, so why not go with one received from a Jimmie Johnson fan just before JJ wrapped up his unprecedented fourth consecutive championship? When this particular "fan" first started peppering me with e-mails, let's just say they weren't always of a positive nature. In fact, let's just say they never were of a positive nature. So I was pleased when he wrote the following:
Dear Joe,
When last we exchanged the written word, you encouraged me to read the stuff you guys write so this morning I read your ENTIRE column and it brought forth two results.
a) I enjoyed reading it b) I agree with you
I am starting to prepare my Long Island Iced Tea for the (Johnson championship) celebration next Sunday. Regarding the manufacturers' trophy … anything but a Toyoder!!
Jack Derry, N.H.
See, I told you. And many others. All you've got to do is keep reading and eventually you will discover something I've written that isn't so bad in your discriminating eyes.
Another hot topic recently was the decision of JR Motorsports to sign Danica Patrick as a part-time Nationwide Series driver. I happened to mention in my initial column about the pending venture that perhaps Ms. Patrick might want to master the IndyCar Series a bit more before seriously taking on NASCAR (). That led to numerous responses, including this one:
Joe,
Why do you care if she's "wasting" NASCAR's time? Is it your time? Keep in mind that you are no more important than the guy sitting next to me, or me for that matter when it comes to professional athletes and the decisions they make. What you're doing is no different than what "Access Hollywood" is doing with Tiger Woods at this point.
There was a time when NASCAR was enjoyable to watch. A time when men got out of their cars and settled things like men when they had to. But, now with the advent of NASCAR's mainstream popularity and people like you, those same men are called barbarians. So cool your jets there, Nancy O'Dell.
Chuck Chesapeake, Va.
Um, Chuck? Who is Nancy O'Dell? Is she coming to NASCAR, too?
(Editor's Note: Nancy O'Dell, a former Miss South Carolina, is an entertainment journalist who had a long run as co-host of "Access Hollywood" before leaving the show earlier this month.)
And by the way, some folks agreed with my position … such as:
Menzer,
You're a man after my heart. Thank you for that Danica article … geez, I was hoping she wouldn't come to NASCAR, we have enough Divas with the Busch brothers. Also, Junior doesn't need anymore distractions after last year.
Lisa Whereabouts unknown
Alas, my heart is already taken by my lovely bride of 20-plus years—so be careful with your words, Lisa. But you make some very good points otherwise! And finally, there was this on the Danica subject:
Joe,
Danica Patrick is the Dale Earnhardt Jr. of IndyCars. Jr. is simply famous because he happens to share the same name as one of the most legendary NASCAR drivers there will ever be. Danica is famous because she is a woman that happens to be smoking hot. … Jr. is supposed to be dominating right now. Hendrick [Motorsports] was his golden ticket to the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory, but [it] turns out Jr. screwed up along the way and ate the ticket along with his chocolate bar. Now I e-mailed you about Danica, but I'm talking about Jr. because he and Danica are one in the same. Jr. gets all of this attention for doing absoloutley (sic) NOTHING. Just like Danica, except for her "Sports Illustared" (sic) shoot, which is just awesome.
I personally say Danica should do a "Sports Illustrated" shoot at a dirt track, now that would be awesome. Jr. should quit now and focus on not blowing his retirment (sic) …
Bo City of residence unlisted
Bo, perhaps you could get in touch with the aforementioned Lisa—if you can figure out where both of you are from and where to meet. But be careful. Sounds like he might get into a Little Bo Peep Show and that might not be your thing.
(Hint: If it is, though, wear something with the No. 3 prominently displayed, perhaps even in tattoo form).
One other much debated e-mail topic as the year wound down, of course, was whether or not it was good for the sport to see Johnson nail down that fourth consecutive championship. Lots of folks came out of the woodwork on both sides of the fence on this topic, which produced the following:
Hi Joe,
I think [NASCAR chairman and CEO] Brian France is in denial. Millions of fans, including myself, have turned the TV off because we are just sick of the current situation with the Chase [for the Sprint Cup championship].
We don't think Jimmy (sic) Johnson is a four-time champion and we do feel that there is cheating going on with Johnson and [crew chief Chad] Knaus. You and the other writers can call JJ "Superman" all you want [well, I don't know whether or not you specifically have] but we think that NASCAR is mocking all the champions before him. He is a good driver, he is not a great driver but he has a great cheater in Knaus.
I have been a rabid fan for years [even more so than my husband] but I don' t know if I will watch any of the races at all next year. Yes, I am one of those beginning to think Brian France is ruining NASCAR.
SB City unknown, Ga.
Brian France is ruining NASCAR? Or Jimmie Johnson is? I can't seem to keep it straight with all you people.
All I know is that I attended 20 of the 36 races in person this year and watched the rest on television. While it's true there were some boring races, there were plenty of darn good ones, too. (You've heard this before, but it's worth repeating: just as in football or baseball or basketball, not every game or event is going to be spellbinding when you are watching live sports).
And Jimmie Johnson? He made racing history, and did it legally—despite all those Chad Knaus haters out there. Why is it that Johnson and Knaus get vilified for going one step better than Cale Yarborough and Junior Johnson once did in a different era (and Junior Johnson, as Yarborough's car owner and de facto crew chief, was celebrated for pushing the rules envelope far greater than Knaus ever could attempt in this era)?
While I think we all hope for the finish to be a little more stirring and even admit that it may be better for the immediate future of the sport in terms of its popularity if someone else wins the championship in 2010, I for one am looking forward to seeing what Superman and his trusty sidekick Cheatin' Chad can do next year in their Drive for Five.
But since this is supposed to be a mostly humorous column, I will now take a step back and report what one fan wrote in response to a story about track owner Bruton Smith's tentative plans to build three tracks in the Middle East country of Qatar:
I hope a camel defecates on his bald head. And any driver that races over there.
Anonymous Whereabouts Unknown (but we're pretty sure he doesn't live in the Middle East)
This seems like a good time for a little joke I made up. If Bruton does indeed get those tracks built, you know what that will make him? A Qatar Hero.
Smith even pledged to have some ideas about making Talladega Superspeedway a safe place to race. Talladega was a hot topic both in the spring, when Carl Edwards' car flipped and nearly went into the frontstretch grandstands, and again in the fall when the cars of both Ryan Newman and Mark Martin sailed airborne and flipped again.
Readers chimed in after yet another column about how something needs to change at 'Dega but probably won't (), including:
Thanks Joe,
I appreciate your comments about Talladega. When Carl Edwards had his incident at this track last time where several fans were injured, I e-mailed NASCAR with my concerns. I e-mailed this time as well. I haven't watched a restrictor plate race since. I'm boycotting the restrictor plate tracks until something is done about this problem. I don't want to watch a race where someone is going to get killed whether it be a driver, NASCAR employee or a spectator. That's not why I watch racing.
I needed to hear someone other than myself say that this is a problem. NASCAR, as usual, is playing off that there is a problem. That's called denial. Someone in NASCAR referred to it as a game of chess. I refer to it as a game of Russian Roulette.
Thanks, Patrick No city of residence listed
Then again, not everyone agreed with Patrick or myself that something drastic needs to be done to change the way NASCAR races at Talladega, including the e-mailer who wrote:
Nothing is wrong with Talladega. Turn them loose and let them race … no one makes them show up at the track. As for the 48 [of Jimmie Johnson] too bad his car was not a total wreck along with the 5 [of Mark Martin]. No one was hurt, so what's the beef? As for the last lap Carl Edwards wreck NASCAR should red flag the race, put the overtaking car that caused the wreck in the pits for three laps and restart the race … green, white checkered … with the offending car in the pits three laps down.
John Jacksonville, Fla.
Dear John, you make it sound so simple. It's not.
Nor was the post-race conversation I attempted to have with winner Tony Stewart following the Kansas 400 at Kansas Speedway, when Stewart kept interrupting my attempts to ask a question. I thought it was pretty funny; some thought I should be deeply offended.
Others couldn't understand what must have come off [in their minds] as a clumsy attempt to write a mostly humorous column about it afterward (), including the guy who wrote:
My goodness, Joe, just had to comment. That's such a convoluted column—especially your five-paragraph roundabout way of getting to what I guess is the point—that I thought (fellow NASCAR.COM staffer Dave) Rodman had written it!) Also, remember that the only one fascinated by a journalist's interaction with a celebrity is the journalist himself/herself.
JW Parts unknown
Thanks, JW. I'll try to remember that next time I talk to Rodman.
That'll be sometime next year, by the way—which means it's time to wrap up this wrap-up column with a couple of my favorite personal shots, taken by readers at me in their spare time.
The first was delivered after I noted in a video blog () that many have noted that I seem to resemble other sporting persons in this life. One fine gentleman wrote:
Hey Joe …
I just got thru seeing one of your look-alikes …
I had some M&M's for breakfast, and submitted a stool sample to my doctor …
He looked at it … And said, "Hey, it's Joe Menzer."
William El Dorado, Ariz.
I won't stoop so low as to say something like that—but I was walking my dog the other day and she bent down to do her business and, aw, never mind …
Finally, there was the true fan who wrote in under the subject heading "NASCAR dicision." He just didn't think my take on the "dicision" that came down was very smart, adding:
man you just dont understand nascar rules too well
Tony Parts unknown
True dat, Tony. Fact is, I don't know too many civilians who do. But when we "dicide" to write down something, we do try to use proper punctuation. You should try it next time, too.
Hey, there's always next year.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.
Younger Schumacher interested in F1 return (PA SportsTicker)
December 29, 2009
FRANKFURT(AP) —Ralf Schumacher says he would follow his older brother Michael’s return to Formula One racing if he had the right offer.
Michael Schumacher, a record seven-time Formula One champion, is coming out of three years of retirement to drive for Mercedes GP.
Ralf Schumacher, who retired in 2007, says racing against his brother was not that important but he would seriously consider an offer to drive for a competitive team.
The 34-year-old driver’s last team was Toyota. He won six races with Williams.
Michael Schumacher, who will turn 41 on Sunday, won a record 91 Grands Prix and is the series’ most successful driver.
USF1 team says 2010 preparations on schedule (PA SportsTicker)
December 28, 2009
MADRID(AP) —Formula One newcomer USF1 says its plans for competing in the 2010 season are on schedule, dismissing speculation that it may not be ready in time for the first race in March.
Sporting director Peter Windsor says the rookie team has purposely maintained a low profile compared to other outfits because “we have been building our ‘house.”’
Windsor says the Americans are putting their team together and expect a driver announcement in January.
USF1 is one of several new teams set for the season-opening starting grid at the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14. However, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has previously expressed doubts about whether USF1 and Spanish newcomer Campos Meta would be ready to compete in Bahrain.
RCR crew member dies of H1N1 complications
December 26, 2009
WELCOME, N.C. (AP)—A crew member for Richard Childress Racing has died of complications from the H1N1 virus.
Donald “DJ” Richardson died late Friday after a lengthy hospitalization for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Richardson contracted H1N1 during a Thanksgiving visit to his home state of Massachusetts, and team officials say he had been hospitalized at Health Alliance Hospital in Leominster the entire time.
The 37-year-old Richardson spent last season as a tire changer on Kevin Harvick’s crew.
He began his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career with Andy Petree Racing in 1999 and had previously worked for Penske Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Braun Racing.
Emporia honors NASCAR’s Bowyer with street name
December 25, 2009
EMPORIA, Kan. (AP)—NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer has donated thousands of dollars in his Kansas hometown in recent years, and now Emporia is showing its thanks.
Bowyer’s racing career began on a practice track at Flint Hills Towing on Emporia’s Graham Street. This week, he was on hand as the city unveiled a sign adding the honorary label, Clint Bowyer Boulevard.
Two years ago, Bowyer established the 79 Fund with the Emporia Community Foundation to help Emporians in need. The fund has helped a city cleanup project and the city Arts Council’s building fund, and this month provided 20 Christmas trees to needy families and shoes for 85 children.
Bowyer says he’s humbled by the street sign, and promises that his fund’s work has just begun.
For the Cup Series’ elite, holiday wishes ring true (NASCAR.com)
December 24, 2009
The stockings have been hung by the chimney with care (my wife rolls out Christmas about the time the pecan pie is cut on Thanksgiving). Not a creature is stirring (except Reily, the 4-year-old who never sleeps). Mama doesn't sleep in a "kerchief," nor do I in a "cap," (leave it at that, thank you) but in any case we've survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday and we are ready for St. Nick.
So are the NASCAR guys:
Jimmie Johnson wishes for … another year's dues paid for Trophy Hunting 101. Trophy hunting is an elitist hobby, requiring tens of thousands of dollars to participate in each hunting "trip" (aka Sprint Cup Series races). Many trophy "hunters" (aka drivers) belong to "organizations" (aka Hendrick Motorsports) which promote and enable the so-called "sport" (aka the Chase). Or so says the Humane Society.
Mark Martin wishes for … Jimmie Johnson to take a really close look at his annual Social Security Statement, which gives an estimate of the monthly benefit amounts Jimmie may qualify for now and in the future. Retirement, Jimmie, is an option. But not like Mark did in 2006—really retire.
Jeff Gordon wishes for … nothing—he has a model wife, a cute-as-a-button daughter and four trophies that could dwarf an elf.
Kurt Busch wishes for … nothing—his wish list was filled when Steve Addington came on board to shepherd the Blue Deuce.
Denny Hamlin wishes for … more road courses! He has six top-10 finishes in eight starts on serpentine tracks. That's a top-10 finish 75 percent of the time—better than his average on short tracks (72 percent), speedways (50 percent) and superspeedways (27 percent).
Tony Stewart wishes for … a Norelco "Old Guys" marketing campaign; free razors might persuade him to lose the 5 o'clock shadow. • Remember this classic?
Greg Biffle wishes for … a change in the Chase schedule, to include 10 survivor-style races at Kansas (hey, it's the only track where he averages a top-10 finish). Don't think it couldn't happen after the casino is built; 10 weeks in the heartland, rolling the dice, doubling down and racing on Sundays in Sprint's backyard. … Hey, if Pocono can keep 1,000 miles of racing, there really is a Santa Claus.
Juan Montoya wishes for … more leniencies from Timing & Scoring. C'mon, if you can give 'em 5 mph over the pit-road speed limit, why not 6, maybe 8? After all, what's a few RPMs between friends?
Ryan Newman wishes for … better finishes—both from the pole (45 in 296 starts; only three wins from the P1) and for the season (he's never cracked the top five in points in eight full seasons).
Kasey Kahne wishes for … the Fisher Price Power Wheels Barbie Ford Mustang, which is realistically detailed inside and out, from its pony grille with fog lamps, to its racy rear spoiler and everything in between. A pretend key activates engine sounds, light ups and revving dashboard gauges. The equalizer bars light up when tunes from the pretend radio play. It also features sporty Barbie styling, chrome wheels and accents, beeping horn sound and interior cup holders for real driving fun. Equipped with a battery charge indicator that lets users know when it's time to "refuel," an adjustable seat for growing kids, high-speed lock out for beginners and Power Lock brakes for additional security.
Ford. Drive One, Kasey!
Carl Edwards wishes for … nothing—except a healthy baby. We all wish that for Carl and Doc Kate, who eagerly await the bundle of joy, due sometime around Speedweeks.
(On a personal note, Raygan Swan returns from maternity leave on Jan. 1. I have no doubt the stories she will share about her first few months of motherhood will leave you LOL.)
Brian Vickers wishes for … anonymity. Have you ever noticed that BV and the Lucky Charms leprechaun are never in the same place at the same time? Clark Kent has nothing on Vickers.
Brian France wishes for … peace on earth and goodwill toward men, not to mention a race car fans will be happy with, a race without a "debris" caution that sets up a green-white-checkers finish—shootout-style, no less!—and any number of things that "ChaseHater1" rattles on about within the Comments section. (Yep, I read 'em all, CH1.)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wishes for … a top-12 points finish so he won't be a gratuitous addition to ridiculous year-end wish lists.
Danica Patrick wishes for … Milka Duno to just go away. Once folks realize "Milk & Donuts" is a) as talented if not more and b) would also look great in a potato sack … well, the jig might just be up for Mrs. Hospenthal.
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all! Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.
Turning the final lap (Yahoo! Sports)
December 23, 2009
With the ending of the 2009 NASCAR season, so, too, has my partnership with Yahoo! Sports.
I think back to the first column I wrote for Yahoo! leading into the 2007 season. It was quite a transition for me, from being sometimes written about while a competitor on the circuit to offering my view of the sport, its drivers (many of whom I’ve competed against) and, I hoped, bringing to light a few intangibles – things you may not have known before clicking on the site that day.
I appreciate very much the
opportunities and experiences I have had and being part of a team again. That team (like those I raced with) has qualified personnel who are exceptional at what they do, specific to their area. I wish to single out Jon Baum and Jay Hart – two who coached me and two I consider friends (even if Jon is as loyal to the Yankees as I am to the Red Sox).
To put things in perspective, it is 7:38 a.m. as I write this. I’m sitting next to my 4-year-old, Lydia, who is tapping away on her “Leapster” as
diligently as I am my laptop. Lydia is in the middle innings of taking over the world, or at least it feels that way when you’re on the receiving end of her orders and directions. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Riley and Everett have just left for school. Riley, my oldest and a senior this year, is an exceptional young lady who many say shares my determination but acquired my wife’s intelligence. Richard Everett is 13, nearly my height, which represents the only advantage he has on his older sister at this time.
Over the past year, he and his friends have become avid dirt bikers, something I did as a kid and have been able to enjoy with him.
I share all this because it illustrates me having reached my goal – spending more time with my family – when I ended my driving career in 2005. Working with Yahoo! has allowed me to do this while remaining connected to NASCAR. For that, I say thank you.
You, the readers, have been a barometer for me. Among other things, you’ve rewarded me with praise if you enjoyed
or agreed with my views and opinions. And you challenged me when you disagreed. Both were great and both were necessary.
I believed when I was driving that the fans of our sport were the engine that drove us faster and further. In the last three years, I’ve identified that, to a degree, you are also shareholders in the sport – with voting rights on what you like, dislike or would change.
I appreciate all of you who support NASCAR.
Working with Yahoo! has allowed me to view my profession from a
different angle, and I hope I was able to give readers a different perspective from someone who has been there. My goal was to offer insight into the grind of a 36-race schedule, how challenging the turns are at a particular track or how a rain delay can affect a driver and his crew.
I hope I was able to show you how I watch a race. How, when looking for an indicator of how strong a particular car is and what that driver might be up against on that particular day, I focus on how strong the car performs in the
first three or four laps of a restart. How on flat tracks I focus on the very center of the corner, because it, more than any other part of the track, separates the good from the bad. How at Daytona my attention is on Turn 2, because that’s the corner that will challenge drivers to lift. Those who didn’t would more than likely prevail.
I’ve enjoyed all that I have done in the last three years. I hope you have as well.
Thank you again to everyone at Yahoo! and to all who supported me in this new endeavor.
Happy
holidays.
Ricky Craven is Yahoo! Sports NASCAR analyst. Send Ricky a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
Fenway Sports Group alters its marketing plans (NASCAR.com)
December 23, 2009
Fenway Sports Group has no plans to replace departing motorsports chief Brian Corcoran, which will lessen the agency's sales and marketing role with its race team, Roush Fenway Racing.
Corcoran joined Boston-based Fenway Sports Group last year as executive vice president of motorsports and was charged with streamlining the sales and marketing activities between Fenway Sports Group and the race team, while also seeking cross-promotional opportunities with the Boston Red Sox. Fenway Sports Group and the Red Sox are both owned by John Henry, and Fenway Sports Group is a 50 percent co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing.
Although the team and the agency say they'll continue to share leads on sponsorship sales, there won't be a day-to-day role for Fenway Sports Group in the race team.
"Our focus is sales and representation, and Roush Fenway Racing has an exceptional sales and marketing team," said Sam Kennedy, president of Fenway Sports Group. "We've explored the possibility of having day-to-day involvement with the team on the sales and marketing side as a service provider, as a vendor.
"What we've realized is that, given the structure of a race team, things will work better with a more casual working relationship. We'll still share leads and best practices, but we won't have a role in the day-to-day operations."
The intent when Henry's Fenway Sports Group acquired half of Roush Racing in 2007 was for Fenway Sports Group to become the sales and marketing arm of the race team. It was considered a landmark move that instantly vaulted Fenway Sports Group from a bit sports marketing player that leaned heavily on the Red Sox as its premier client to a more well-rounded agency that had the wherewithal to combine the resources of NASCAR and the Red Sox.
Since then, Fenway Sports Group has blossomed with a client roster that now includes the Red Sox, Fenway Park, NESN, Fulham FC of the English Premier League, Athletes' Performance, Boston College, the PGA Tour Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston and the Professional Bull Riders.
But the relationship between the agency and the race team never flourished the way it was imagined. Corcoran, who spent six years in NASCAR's New York-based sales and marketing office before joining Fenway Sports Group, said that the agency was simply unable to perfect the sales and marketing relationship with the team.
Kennedy didn't offer specifics on why Fenway Sports Group will no longer push for more day-to-day involvement.
Roush Fenway Racing will continue to sell sponsorships out of its Concord, N.C., shop, led by president Geoff Smith and Robin Johnson, the executive vice president of business development.
"We've always done most of our own sales work here," Johnson said. "We've always realized that the core of the sales and marketing has to be done within the race team. That hasn't changed. We're responsible for raising our own sponsorship dollars.
"We remain interested with working with FSG and leveraging each other's assets when we can. If there are ways for each of us to broaden our base of prospects, we want to do that."
Michael Smith is a reporter with SportsBusiness Journal.
This year, nothing eclipses what Johnson achieved (NASCAR.com)
December 23, 2009
For all he has accomplished, it seems like Jimmie Johnson's achievements regularly get overshadowed by other things going on in NASCAR's premier series. Two years ago, his second title was buried under a mountain of empathy for Jeff Gordon's unsuccessful drive for five and a deluge of interest in Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s split from Dale Earnhardt Inc. Last season, his third crown came amid a glut of layoffs, mergers, team closures and other recession-forced moves that altered the landscape of the sport.
So despite his dominance, it's been rather difficult for Johnson to stand apart. There have always been too many questions about whether he "deserved" to win the title—what, with his rise coinciding with the change in the Cup championship format—too many soap operas involving more popular drivers, too many brewing subplots. It's hard to believe, given that last season Johnson did something only one other driver had ever done, but maybe because of his cool public persona or his drama-free nature, Johnson sometimes seemed to get lost.
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No more. Yes, the economy is still having a devastating effect on NASCAR; yes, Earnhardt's career still provides us with more twists and turns than a roller-coaster ride; yes, Tony Stewart and Mark Martin and Kyle Busch all made headlines. But this year, finally, Johnson rose above it all. His unprecedented fourth consecutive series championship stands as such a benchmark that the rest of the garage area is almost in awe of what he's done.
Chase-haters who challenge the veracity of Johnson's championships have become fewer and fewer, and those few remaining stragglers are left shouting into the wind. Four consecutive titles under any system is a gargantuan accomplishment, and it's taken that kind of history-making feat for Johnson to finally receive the respect and recognition that he's been due for some time. It's been a year of upheaval in NASCAR, with television ratings and attendance numbers falling, the sport's drug policy on trial, and familiar names like Childress and Petty facing trying times. Through it all, the man in the No. 48 car has been the one comforting constant.
The days of Johnson being overshadowed are over. His fourth consecutive championship, the greatest individual achievement the sport has seen since Dale Earnhardt tied Richard Petty with his seventh title in 1994, is unquestionably the top story of the year in NASCAR. It's on a very short list for top stories of the decade, but we'll wait to explore that until next week. The scary thing? Johnson and the No. 48 team seem better now than they've ever been, and show no signs of stopping. Who knows—one day, Earnhardt and Petty may have some company.
The rest of the top 10 stories of 2009
2. The struggles of Junior. So many expectations, so much hype, such a letdown. We thought winning one race and finishing last in the Chase would be the low point of Earnhardt's tenure at Hendrick Motorsports. But 25th? No wins? No shot at the Chase? A crew chief change? Unconscionable, for a driver with 18 victories and a team with nine Cup titles. No wonder fixing the No. 88 is Rick Hendrick's No. 1 priority for 2010.
3. Stewart-Haas backs it up. Tony Stewart talked big in the preseason, confident that his new team could contend for race wins and a championship in its first year under its new name. Not everyone believed him. There are no doubters now, not after Stewart used Hendrick power and his own delegation and organizational skills to win four races, lead the points for 13 consecutive weeks, and place two cars in the Chase.
4. NASCAR on trial. NASCAR's new random drug-testing policy faced its first major challenge in May when Jeremy Mayfield allegedly tested positive for methamphetamines and was suspended indefinitely from the sport. The result has been an ugly legal fight, full of recriminations and mistakes made by both sides. Things have been quiet on this front for a while, but it's far from over—the trial is set to begin on Sept. 13, 2010.
5. Montoya's emergence. A year ago, it felt like the Juan Montoya-to-NASCAR experiment was coming to an inglorious end. Twenty-fifth in points and going through one crew chief after another, Montoya appeared just another ex-open-wheeler who wasn't going to make it. Then he was paired with crew chief Brian Pattie, and then the chemistry began to brew, and the result was a driver who came out of nowhere to contend for the title.
6. Martin fabulous at 50. Win a few races? Sure. Maybe make the Chase? Why not. Enjoy arguably his best, and without question his most enjoyable, season of his 27-year NASCAR career? OK, that one was something of a shock. But despite a horrendous start and an age when most drivers are considering retirement, that's exactly what Martin did. He won five races, was the points leader entering the Chase, and finished as series runner up. Along the way, he proved that age is just a number.
7. Hard times. The economic troubles facing NASCAR were evident every week in the empty seats at many race tracks. Even facilities with years-long sellout streaks struggled to fill up. The garage area contained markedly fewer people, and unquestionably fewer teams, than in years past. Sponsorship was more difficult than ever to find and hold onto. Mergers led to more shop workers being laid off. The recession may have not been the dominant headline this year in NASCAR, but it's still there, and people are still suffering from it.
8. The saga of RPM. Kasey Kahne returned Richard Petty to Victory Lane and got the King into the Chase. But beyond that, it was a tumultuous season for Richard Petty Motorsports, which absorbed the Yates Racing team and will field a four-car Ford operation next season. There were plenty of questions about who's running the show, and Kahne—the one driver RPM cannot afford to lose—talked openly about leaving after his contract expires in 2010.
9. Kyle's wild ride. He won races. He broke guitars. He ticked off race fans. He missed out on a chance to contend for the Cup championship, but won a title on the Nationwide tour. It was a crazy, unpredictable season for Kyle Busch, who won 20 races combined in NASCAR's top three circuits but failed to make the Chase. Will new crew chief Dave Rogers revive the No. 18? Hopefully, because the Cup Series is more fun when Kyle is in the mix.
10. Trouble at Talladega. NASCAR's biggest track produced the two most horrifying crashes of the season and left drivers wondering what else NASCAR can do to make the venue any safer. First there was Carl Edwards, going airborne into the fence at the end of the spring race, in a crash that injured eight spectators but thankfully wasn't much worse. Then there was Ryan Newman, flipping over and coming down hard on his roof in the fall. Stopping cars from going airborne at the 2.66-mile facility needs to be near the top of NASCAR's to-do list for 2010.
Surprises (non-Montoya division)
1. Brian Vickers. The driver and his Red Bull team finally showed some substance to go with all that style, winning his first race in the organization's colors and snagging the final berth in the Chase. For too long, you wondered if Red Bull cared as much about winning races as it did about promoting its energy-drink-driven culture and lifestyle. With Jay Frye running the show and Vickers with a new contract, we now know for certain that the answer is yes.
2. David Reutimann. Now the standard-bearer for Michael Waltrip Racing, the driver playfully nicknamed "the Franchise" produced a fine first half of the year that included a breakthrough first victory in the rain-delayed Coca-Cola 600. He wasn't able to remain in Chase contention for the entire regular season, but Reutimann showed time and time again that he can run up front, that he can be a factor in the end, and that the Waltrip organization isn't one to be laughed at anymore.
3. Brad Keselowski's win. Everyone knew that James Finch's cars could be strong on restrictor-plate tracks. Nobody expected the No. 07 to be quite as strong as it was in the spring race at Talladega, which Keselowski won and eventually parlayed into a full-time Cup ride with Penske Racing. Yes, it was a harrowing finish, with Keselowski holding his line at the bottom and Edwards flying into the fence. But it also produced the most stunning race result of the season.
Disappointments (non-Junior division)
1. Richard Childress Racing. It seemed an unexpected collapse for one of NASCAR's top franchises, an organization that had placed three drivers in the Chase for two years in a row. But look a little harder, and you could see this coming—even with those playoff berths, RCR cars struggled to lead laps and get in position to win. Expansion to four teams pushed everything over the edge. A management shuffle produced promising results toward the end of 2009 that hopefully will result in a better 2010.
2. Roush Fenway's big guns. Edwards was to many the favorite entering the 2009 season. Matt Kenseth won the first two races and looked like the driver to beat. And yet, the former went winless and the latter missed the Chase for the first time. It was that kind of year at Roush, which has a driver lineup to rival Hendrick's, but just couldn't put the pieces together. Greg Biffle went winless. David Ragan fell off the map. Jamie McMurray lost his ride. Not exactly the kind of performance the man in the hat is accustomed to.
3. Fox's NASCAR coverage. No television network does NASCAR better than Fox, which presents the kind of volume and bluster that's the closest thing to witnessing the sport live. With Darrell Waltrip in the booth, we've also become accustomed to a refreshing degree of outspokenness. So what did we get in 2009? Announcers that too often sounded like apologists, and an embarrassing emphasis on an animated rodent. Let's focus on the race, fellas. If you're in this to sell plush gophers, you're in the wrong business.
Awards
Driver of the Year: Jimmie Johnson. Who can argue with four consecutive championships? Oh, and he won the most races, won the title by a huge margin, and—for those grumbling purists out there—would have triumphed even under the old points system. Runner-up: Juan Montoya and Mark Martin (tie). Tremendous rebounds for both drivers, for entirely different reasons. Honorable mention: Tony Stewart. The burdens of team ownership didn't seem so burdensome after all. Other than a few grumpy moments, Smoke seemed happier than he's been in a long time. Four wins and leading the points for 13 consecutive weeks surely helped.
Crew chief of the Year: Brian Pattie. Montoya's amazing climb from also-ran to title contender was engineered by Pattie, who rather than force his driver to adapt to setups, tailored the setups to his driver. The results were evident. Runner-up: Pat Tryson. He oversaw a legitimate championship run despite lame-duck status and catching plenty of unnecessary grief from Kurt Busch on the radio. Tryson handled it all better than most in his position would have. Lifetime achievement: Chad Knaus. He's simply the best in the business, no question. He runs the most prepared, most efficient, and most successful team on the circuit.
Owner of the Year: Rick Hendrick. He hires the best people, turns out the best cars, and runs the tightest ship. His team's quality control—so important in a sport where managing potential failure is paramount—is unsurpassed, and nine Cup titles speak for themselves. Runner-up: Tony Stewart. Yes, he used Hendrick cars, engines, and technical support. But Stewart still had to bring in people like crew chiefs Darian Grubb and Tony Gibson, driver Newman, and competition director Bobby Hutchens. He still had to lure sponsors. None of that is easy. Honorable mention: Chip Ganassi. No question, he's caught lightning with Montoya, one of the greatest drivers of his era. But he's also found the pieces and personnel that the No. 42 team has needed to contend. Now, let's see if he can do the same with McMurray.
Race of the Year: Sylvania 300, Sept. 20, New Hampshire Motor Speedway. In the first Cup event featuring double-file restarts, Martin holds off Montoya on a restart with three laps left to win. Montoya says Martin "screwed" him at the end. Stewart drops an axle cap, Kahne blows an engine, and everybody's mad at Kyle Busch after an eight-car accident on a restart. Great fun. Runner-up: Ford 400, Nov. 22, Homestead-Miami Speedway. Cars stacking up on pit road, Montoya and Stewart trading blows, and oh yeah, Johnson winning another title. Honorable mention: LifeLock 400, June 14, Michigan International Speedway. Johnson dominates, but he and Biffle both run out of fuel in the waning laps, setting the stage for another Martin victory.
Move of the Year: Jimmie Johnson moving Denny Hamlin out of the way with 15 laps left at Martinsville on March 28. It gave Johnson his first win of the season, and at the same time reminded everyone of who's boss. Runner-up: Greg Zipadelli telling Joey Logano to stay out as rain threatened June 28 at New Hampshire, a strategy which produced the rookie driver's first win. Honorable mention: Denny Hamlin punting Brad Keselowski in the Nationwide race at Homestead, and then blaming it on the sun being in his eyes.
Early 2010 championship pick
Jimmie Johnson. Get used to it. His 141-point victory in front of Martin in the standings was the largest final margin of his championship run. Too many other drivers are bogged down with Nationwide races or team ownership. Too many other organizations are scratching their heads, wondering what it will take to beat these guys. Until somebody does, there's no reason to pick anyone else.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.
Schumacher’s legacy at stake with F1 return (PA SportsTicker)
December 23, 2009
By PAUL LOGOTHETIS AP Auto Racing Writer
MADRID(AP)—Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula One after three years in retirement certainly marks a historic turn in the sport’s history.
The question is: Will it enhance or damage the German’s glittering legacy?
The record seven-time world champion, who agreed Wednesday to drive for Mercedes for at least the 2010 season, is F1’s most successful driver with record numbers in all categories: 91 race wins, 68 pole positions and 76 fastest laps.
But will his comeback be a success or another example of an over-the-hill athlete clutching at past glory?
“I never left the racetrack. I kept the motivation and maintained it,” Schumacher said. “I still feel absolutely on the edge. I have to prove it in a real car.”
Schumacher returns in one of the most competitive eras of F1, with four champions on the starting grid. That includes Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and McLaren teammate and defending champion Jenson Button, who won with Brawn in 2009 during a season where rule changes shook up the pecking order.
Is the soon to be 41-year-old Schumacher ready for the new F1?
“(The cars) will be slightly different but I have been in so many characters of different cars over the years,” Schumacher said. “The strong part of myself is I am capable of adapting in all circumstances.”
Schumacher will look to follow Niki Lauda and Alain Prost as drivers who came out of retirement to win F1 titles.
British bookmaker British Hill is giving odds of 6-1 on Schumacher winning the 2010 title, behind Hamilton (9-4), Alonso (7-2) and Sebastian Vettel (11-2) and tied with Button.
Schumacher would hope to match Michael Jordan’s first return to the Chicago Bulls, which he led to three straight NBA titles, or boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, who returned after three years to defeat Marvin Hagler for the middleweight title.
The driver would not, however, want to replicate Jordan’s second comeback, a forgettable two seasons with the Washington Wizards. Another athlete who struggled in his comeback was Swedish tennis great Bjorn Borg, who returned after eight years out but was unable to adapt to a new era of racket technology and changing play.
“Schumacher coming back to F1 is great news for the sport,” Button said recently. “But I don’t know if it will be great news for Michael Schumacher. He will be putting his reputation on the line coming back into the sport.”
Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn is certain that Schumacher can make a smooth transition.
“He is the best judge of what he can do,” said Brawn, who was the architect of each of Schumacher’s seven championships. “I trust him implicitly and he says he can do it.”
