Note from Jim: John “Dawg” Chapman, former midget racer, jack of all racin’ trades and fierce fan, is back to finish up with one fan’s take on what may or may not take in the 2009 Silly Season. Round and round it goes, where it stops, nobody knows.
Like making predictions, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
As promised, here’s the finish of my speculations on what cars and drivers that I see as being “in play.” With Truex’s announcement, the dominoes have started to fall. Once the process starts, it usually picks up speed.
The drivers I see as most effected by the new realities in today’s NA$CAR are the drivers on the fringe. A good example would be Dave Blaney. Dave hitched his wagon to a falling star with Bill Davis. I think that if he had been able to have come up with a better team, things could have been different. Under normal circumstances, Dave could have hung on with a lesser team and probably extended his career three or four more years. Every team in the sport will feel the pinch. These marginal rides and drivers are going to feel it the most.
#47 Marcos Ambrose
I only include him here mostly because I want to talk about him. NA$CAR, can talk about diversity, all they want to, Marcos is about as diverse as they come. Extremely talented, not afraid to stick his neck out to chase his dream and doing a damn good job of it.
What’s not to like about Aussies. Australia is the only other country where they race Sprint cars and Midgets. They ride bulls, love sports and beer. Before I finish gushing, yes, they bought their way into the top 35 to start with, but that’s the way the game is played. I don’t have to like it, but I can’t fault them for it.
Good on you mate. I hope he finds lots of gold, both in NA$CAR, as well as “In them there Hills”.
#55 Michael “Mikey” Waltrip
Looooong overdue….and that’s about all I have to say about Mikey.
#82 Scott Speed
I said yesterday that it’s never been easier to stay in the top 35. Yet here is a fully funded team with good people that has failed to manage it. Their only hope is to ride their checkbook in for next year because they haven’t been able to race in.
Scott has had a struggle getting up to speed, but that’s not unprecedented. Look how long it’s taken Hornish. A talented driver, given enough time, can make it.
I like Scott, really I do! I’ve spent my entire life going in the out of doors and running away from the herd. I think he’s a breath of fresh air in NA$CAR. Another poster boy for diversity, just not the kind of diversity that NA$CAR had in mind.
I don’t for one second question his talent- never mind that he didn’t win in F1. If you’re not in one of the top 2 or 3 teams, you’re not going to win- barring a total fluke. That’s just the way it is. To have gotten there the way he did validates his ability.
What I do question is his commitment to NA$CAR. The very thing I like about him- from his pedicures and painted toenails, to his general attitude- seems to show that he’s taking this entire NA$CAR thing as a kind of a lark. I see Scott and JPM, as poles apart in desire. It’s like this whole NA$CAR thing was served up to him on a platter, so why not?
It seems like he’s just phoning it in. I just don’t see him sticking around too long. He hasn’t seemed to have made the transition from Monaco to Martinsville very well.
On second thought, I can’t say I blame him.
#96 Bobby Labonte
Like most everyone else without inside information, I expected Bobby to follow the General Mills sponsorship to RCR in 2008. Time will tell if he made the correct choice. If, in fact he had that choice. I see this ride as pretty tenuous. If the stock market has taught us anything, it’s that the “dot coms” can disappear as fast as they appeared.
Bobby is on the down hill side of his career, but then so is Mark Martin. Bobby can do better, he just needs to make better choices.
#98 Paul Menard
It’s really easy and somewhat fashionable to dismiss Paul as just a guy racing on his Daddy’s money. The fact is that he is in a pretty enviable position,…. I know- I envy the hell out him.
He does know how to take care of his stuff and that counts for a lot.
Had Regan Smith stood his ground at Talladega and taken Tony Stewart out, Paul would probably have won the race. Then again, if both Regan and Paul had more experience being in that position, maybe he wouldn’t have been faced with that decision.
Paul may never be better than a journeyman, but if he wants’ to be more than the Salt Walther of NA$CAR, he needs to step it up. Salt was a guy who rode his Daddy’s money to a very mediocre career in Indy cars in the ’70’s.
I think Paul has the potential to be better than he’s shown. I just don’t think he’s in the right place to make it happen. If I were him, I think I’d be knocking on the door over at Stewart-Haas or RCR. They should have a vacancy next year and Richard has something to prove.
This brings us to the part time, and the “S & P” teams. Not too much to be said about them. Most of them will be gone soon.
#78 Regan Smith
I have to take my hat off to this team. They had to face the fact that they didn’t have and couldn’t attract the funding necessary to compete full time. Rather than take the S & P route, they- like the Wood Brothers- choose to pick their spots. When they show up, they show up to race. With what they have to work with they do very well. One of the reasons that the King gave for falling behind was that they stayed in Level Cross too long, and were unable to attract quality people. Luckily he didn’t have to try it from Denver.
Regan Smith holds the record (among active drivers) for running at the finish. Normally this is a stat that gives the talking heads something to talk about. I consider it pretty meaningless. What it usually means is that a driver has managed to not wreck the car so badly that the crew was unable to patch it up enough to limp around until the finish.
In Regan’s case, it has pretty much been accomplished with a clean car. That does mean something. The team is saying they may have something lined up to enable them to run all races next year. I hope it works out. If not, if next year is more like normal, then Regan’s phone will be ringing. In these times it may take a little longer, but it should happen.
#71 David Gilliland
Boy, Mike Wallace sure didn’t last long in this car did he? His might have been a one shot deal, but it wasn’t presented that way. If not, then this was a silly season record that will never be broken. Kind of like Pinks, “miss the race lose your ride.”
This was the strongest of the new teams. They gave a good shot, but it looks like they have finally been reduced to S & P status.
All the other S & P teams can be broken into 2 classes: the ones that wanted to run full time but were so under financed that they really never could get it going, and the few that started out strictly as “start and park.” At this point- it really doesn’t make much difference. I’ve heard all the excuses/justifications. The bottom line is if you don’t come to race. STAY HOME! Do these teams think that they are magically going to turn into competitive race teams? Get real. As things stand now, these teams are nothing more than NA$CAR sanctioned leeches, bleeding money from teams that show up to put on the show.
I would guess that the people running NA$CAR think that if they don’t at least START 43 cars every week that it will show up the current weakness in the sport. Who do they think they are fooling?
There is nothing sacred about starting 43 cars. The 43rd spot was created because the King stayed too long and couldn’t be sure of qualifying for his farewell tour. OK, maybe I can go along with that, there is only one King. The PCP has become a sham to get cars into the field that really shouldn’t be there.It’s time to look at it, as well as the top 35 rule. If NA$CAR didn’t want the S & P teams, all they would have to do would be to prorate the money for ANY car that fell out before half way.
Now a quick overview by owners…………….
Hendrick Motorsports
No changes for next year. For anyone to win the Cup, they have to beat JJ and Chad. How ironic if it were to be Tony.
Stewart- Haas Racing
If Tony were to pull it off this year, you will read a hundred stories comparing this to Alan’s (Kulwicki) Championship as an owner/driver. Tony would be the first to tell you there is no comparison. That having been said- it could happen. If it did, I couldn’t help but be in awe of what they’ve done.
A lot of speculation about them adding another team next year. Don’t overlook the fact that Ryan hasn’t a full time sponsor this year. If they were to add one, Menard comes to mind. If they were to add Brad Keselowski, he would probably just be a “loaner”
Joe Gibbs Racing
I would think this would be a good time to expand, but then that’s what Richard thought last year too.
Roush- Fenway Racing
They started the season off absolutely on fire. They just haven’t done so much since the fire went out. Jack Roush has one of the most marketable drivers in NA$CAR with Cousin Carl. He better hope Carl doesn’t market himself somewhere else.
It’s pretty much accepted that he’s shipping Jamie down. If I were doing it, I think I’d take a hard look at “The Biff” if he wants’ to keep his “B” team afloat. He might want to give them a little Star Power.
Yates Racing
Other than a first rate engine shop, Doug really didn’t take over much. He’s existing now on the crumbs off Jack’s table. This is a team that’s balanced on a knife edge. It wouldn’t take much for it to slip off.
Richard Childress Racing
Expansion looked like a good move, but we all know how that worked out. We just don’t know why. He could be down to three next year, maybe even two, but almost certainly not four.
Penske Racing
They finally seem to be getting a handle on the new car. His patience with Hornish is being rewarded. Stremme may not get the same break. After all, he knew what Sam could do. Stremme’s never really shown that much and the sponsors need results now.
The one change that could come, might be a driver change in the #2 car. Don’t forget Busch bailed on Roush as defending champion. Roush is tightfisted and Busch has shown he values money above loyalty. If he were to get a better offer, he just might take it. Remember, Roger’s never won a Championship in NA$CAR- and with Saturn on his plate- I don’t see that changing.
Michael Waltrip Racing
Because he is so successful being a corporate shill, he had sponsors clamoring to come on board. This led to starting way too big and led to the various well-publicized problems they’ve had. They are now starting to grow into it now. With Truex on board, look for continued improvement.
Richard Petty Motorsports
The King has finally reached par with the British Royal Family…. he’s become nothing more than a figurehead. I’m not too impressed with Gillett. If Kasey were to get a better offer, this entire team could crumble. If not, they should be down to three cars with Sadler and the #44 car gone.
Earnhardt- Ganassi Racing
I think this is already pretty much down to just Chip. He has a loyal sponsor in Target. He better hope JPM is equally loyal. He could spend the winter seeking another merger partner.
James Finch
Part S & P, part winner- with a little help from a friend. He was able to catch lightning in a bottle, but they say lightning never strikes twice in the same spot. The way I see things shaping up for next year. Phil Parsons could well expand to a four car team.
