Mixed messages aren’t always bad (Yahoo! Sports)
April 6, 2010
div.mailsubhead { font-size: 1.4em; font-weight:bold; margin-top:0.6em; margin-bottom:.5em;}hr { align:center; width: 20%; margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 12px; }
Raise your hand if you’re looking forward to the extra 63 laps at Phoenix?
Bueller … Bueller …
Okay then, let’s get to the mailbag:
More From Jay Hart Tasmanian Devil feeling at home in U.S. Apr 2, 2010 Fallout from Martinsville Mar 30, 2010
Consistent message?
My question is basically this, Jeff Gordon came out and actually said “I made sure he wouldn’t win the race after hitting me.” While I admire the truthfulness of this statement, I am wondering why there was not some sort of punishment handed down from the big guys for this?
After all wasn’t this an intentional hit? Just would like some feedback on this.
Join Happy Hour Got a question or comment for Yahoo! Sports NASCAR editor Jay Hart? Want to be a part of Happy Hour? Email Jay
Donna BowmanBaker, W.V.
It’s a legitimate question, Donna, especially in the wake of the Carl Edwards-Brad Keselowski incident. Here’s what NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston had to say about Gordon’s actions: “Seems to me this falls under the realm of self policing and hard racing.”
The main thing I read into this is that NASCAR is willing to let the boys have at it as long as having at it stays within reason. In other words, had Keselowski not gotten airborne, Edwards wouldn’t have been punished at all.
I don’t have a problem with this. Does it leave things open to interpretation? Sure, but the alternative is to create an environment where everyone’s afraid to express their opinion &ndash either verbally or with their bumpers. And as someone who thinks political correctness has neutered free thinking and as the charter member of NOOOO! (The National Organization of the Offended by the Offended), I’m for anything that does the opposite.
Junior update, please!
Mr. Hart: I watched the recent webcast with yourself and Wally Dallenbach, regarding the performance of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. this season. I have to admit, you were starting to piss me off in the middle of it, as I am a Junior fan. (I am also a fan of other drivers as well.) But, as usual, your opinions turned out to be right on the money, as far as physical conditioning goes.
I’d like to take it one step further, if I may, and get your take on something: I agree with what you said in the webcast, after I watched it twice to make sure I heard you right. But I’d like to add this and see what you think: Too many outside interests? The Bar, (Whisky River, I think it’s called) too much time dwelling on what could’ve been?
My take is, that he has the wrong crew chief. While Lance has seemed to light a fire under him, Jr. just doesn’t seem motivated enough in my opinion. I don’t think he trusts him like he did Tony Jr.
To be honest, I think he’s (Junior) getting sick of the whole thing. The spotlight, the attention, the overkill on whose son he happens to be. Your thoughts, please?
PS: The beard looks great!!!
Ross JacksonLongview, Texas
I don’t know if Junior is getting “sick of the whole thing.” Here’s what I do know: that through his entire life in the spotlight, he’s handled himself pretty damn well. He’s never carried an aura of self entitlement; he’s always understood that he inherited his popularity from his father; and he’s accepted his role as the sport’s most important driver (despite never campaigning for the position) without resentment. Because of this – because he maintains that regular-guy persona – his popularity has endured despite the lack of results.
This isn’t to say he doesn’t have his shortcomings. Does he have the same commitment to winning that Jimmie Johnson has? No. Does he have a tendency to fade late in races? Yes.
But I don’t think any of this has to do with who’s sitting atop his pit box. You’re either committed or you’re not. You’re either talented or you’re not. No crew chief is going to change either of these things.
The bottom line: Junior is a good driver with great expectations, and as long as these two things are incongruent, the questions will persist.
As for the beard, a few years back I was living in Ireland tending bar. My first day on the job, someone told me the beard made me look like Gerry Adams. I still don’t know if that was a good thing or not.
Winning isn’t everything
I have a question regarding the points system. Is it possible for a driver to win the championship without a single win? For example, 36 Top 5 finishes.
Scott LevensonGilbert, Ariz.
Sure. After four races in last year’s Chase, a winless Juan Pablo Montoya sat third in the standings, just 58 points back of Mark Martin.
Jimmie Johnson averaged 156.2 points per race during the 2009 Chase, meaning 10 fourth-place finishes would have trumped Johnson’s four Chase wins. Think NASCAR needs to revisit the Chase points system? I do.
Lucky dog
I think that in events like this with less then 10 laps left it should be gas and go’s only, unless someone gets a flat. It would make the races less reliant on pit strategies and put it more on the drivers to make it on the cars they had before caution.
Chris A.Denver
Look, I obviously don’t like seeing luck trump performance, which has happened way too often this season. But pit strategy IS a part of racing and should continue to be.
From my perspective, the issue isn’t so much the late pit stops themselves, but rather the variables that accentuate their importance – ie. multiple cautions, the Lucky Dog, the small box crew chiefs are in regarding what they can do to the car, all of which artificially maintain close competition.
But just as soon as I say this, I along with everyone else will complain if and when someone wins a race by 10 seconds or more.
This is NASCAR’s dilemma – overseeing a competition where the best team wins the day while at the same time providing an entertaining fan experience.
I don’t have a good answer as to how to juggle the two, so I’m withholding judgment. But I do think this – luck trumping performance – is an issue NASCAR has to address.
This and that …
In addition to Craig’s FINE points below, Jimmie Johnson has done what he has done in something much closer to a ‘spec’ class than any of the examples given. JJ also has had teammates that were considered at the top of the sport, with equal equipment and no ‘team orders’ for finish.
I am not a JJ fan in any way, shape, or form, but it’s hard to not look at him as one of the all time driving greats. Given the limitations of the vehicle, he has managed to get the most out of it week in and week out, and has been able to not be in the wrong place more than not. Some of this is surely luck, but one makes their own luck at times.
Jim B.Lawrence, Kan.
Jim brings up a great point. While lots of critics want to find excuses for Johnson’s domination, they overlook the fact that he’s doing it in an era when the competition has never been tighter or more restricted.
Why do you guys get to wait until qualifying/practice starts to make your ‘expert’ picks? I may seem to be picky about this, but you guys are supposed to be the experts and you lay back in the weeds before making your picks? C’mon guys, get it out there so we can tap your expertise when we make OUR picks!
This has been written in good humor and is intended to be a friendly email. 
We good?
Bill RogersParts unknown
I tell you what I’m going to do, Bill. I’ll start posting my picks here in the mailbag on Tuesdays, giving you plenty of time to ponder them and make your own selections. With this in mind, I highly recommend paying little attention to my ‘A’ pick. I’ve been mostly spot on with my ‘B’ and ‘C’ picks, but I’m getting killed by the ‘A’ group.
So, here are my picks:
A Group: Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin (Will go with Johnson)
B Group: Marcos Ambrose, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick (Will probably go with Burton and Harvick)
C Group: AJ Allmendinger, Paul Menard (Will probably go with Menard)
And yeah, we’re good.
Why so many commercials on TV? I’m a long time fan of NASCAR, however, I’m getting tired of all the commercial time. I understand its revenue for NASCAR. Can’t something be done to reduce the time away from the races?
Jerry HarmanTulsa, Okla.
The ad revenue actually goes to the network. NASCAR has already gotten paid, which is what the networks are trying to recoup and then some. In Fox’s case, it signed an eight-year, $4.48 billion deal in 2005. That’s a lot of coin to make up.
There’s always talk of side-by-side viewing, where a split screen shows ads on one side while the race continues on the other. The IRL uses it, but the networks and advertisers seem to be reluctant to try it with NASCAR.
Last call …
Great opening question this week Jay. Tony knows the answer. Can you say “PRO RASSLIN?”
Wilbur DoddHopewell, Va.
Jay Hart is the NASCAR editor for Yahoo! Sports. Send Jay a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
