Hey race fans, I’m long overdue on this message. Having not posted in over month, I am sure some rumors have surfaced concerning my whereabouts.
First of all- I am not dead. I have not assumed room temperature. In fact, I have never been more alive and well. In fact, I don’t have the time- between my regular job as news director/ sports director at a local radio station, radio play-by-play guy for my high school alma mater, husband, and soccer, karate and band dad.
Secondly, I have not ceased to be a NASCAR fan. My passion for what some call the “Left Turn League’ is just as vibrant as ever. Unlike some, I actually think the racing has been pretty damn good this year.
Here’s what has happened. I have become a very busy man, and I may also be on the verge of becoming an adoptive father. If you’ve been through that experience, you know how time consuming that can be.
The truth is, I can no longer keep up the rigors of this labor of love called Bump Drafts. Therefore, I am pulling it in to the garage, and putting it up for sale. It pains me to do it, but I know that it is right.
I am not going away, though. As some of you may already know, I have joined Patrick Reynolds in becoming a regular weekly contributor at allleftturns.com. I am now working for the esteemed Joe Donatelli and my musings can now be seen over there every Tuesday. Joe’s a great guy, and I like what he’s doing with the website, and I’m honored to him, Patrick, and Jay W. Pennell.
On the way out, I have a few thanks. Thank you to Patrick Reynolds, John “Dawg” Chapman, Jeremy T. Sellers and Miss Mustang Jackie for joining me in this venture, lending your perspectives and talents. You all are more than teammates, you are friends. I valued your continued friendship.
Thank you to my wife, Lynnae, and my children, Hannah and Jonathan. You are my inspiration. Lynnae you have also been oh so helpful in the launch and design and maintenance of this site. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Thanks to you, fellow race fans, for coming here and joining the conversation. You too, have been inspirational, and it’s great to call you all friends.
Well, it’s time to sign out. I’ve truly enjoyed the ride. See you trackside, and until then, keep it off the walls.
Jim
by Jim on September 29, 2010
Like a Lazy Susan, the leader carousel spins r’round and ‘round in our standings. While the cream has a way of rising to the top, the top of the top has a way of changing from week to week.
I don’t think we’ve seen the last of it yet either. For this perspective, Jimmie Johnson’s win at Dover was not unexpected, but there will be plenty of competition to keep him honest, and maybe even overtake him this year.
THE BIG TEN
10. Tony Stewart- (Sliding from 7th to 10th)- After his Atlanta win, Stewart has finished 16th, 24th and 21st. It’s not an exactly inspiring run. With two career wins there, Kansas comes at a great time.
9. Jeff Gordon- (Holding serve at 9th)- You can’t help but wonder if he spent all his shells too early in the season. After having a race after race stretch where he came so close, Gordon hasn’t had a really great run since. The good news for guys like Gordon and Stewart is they can win darn near anywhere. For teh Rainbow Warrior, he needs to light ‘em up pretty quick to get back in the championship discussion.
8. Clint Bowyer- (Plunges from 2nd to 8th)- From diamonds to dust, it was a rough week for the 33 team. Now, he can focus on winning, as he heads to his home track. Nothing like winning as a deodorant.
7. Kurt Busch- (RE-ENTRY)- With all the stuff he has to overcome, its seems like Busch has to pass twice the number of drivers to get to the same place. His determination serves him well on days like Sunday.
6. Jeff Burton- (RE-ENTRY)- I’ll say this about J.B., he rarely excites, but he rarely disappoints. That second place finish at Dover was a nice bounce back effort. With Texas and Charlotte on the horizon, there are tracks coming where he’ll be strong.
5. Kevin Harvick- (Down a spot from 4th to 5th)- The “regular season” points leader is keeping up a pretty consistent pace. There problems from this point of view: 1. He looks good, but never quite good enough to take the checkered flag, and 2. Most of the tracks coming up aren’t ones where Harvick is particularly strong.
4. Carl Edwards (Up a tick from 5th to 4th)- As more intermediates come up on the schedule, the more confident I become that Edwards could be the dark horse threat of the field. It seems like he could use a LITTLE more speed. Otherwise, all the ingredients to compete are there.
3. Denny Hamlin- (Down from 1st to 3rd)- It’s not that Denny had a bad week, a top ten at one of your worst track is a good thing. The thing is, Johnson and Busch were better at Dover. If he can be a little more selective about the battles he chooses to fight, Hamlin will be just fine. Personally, I really like the hunger I see in Hamlin. He looks like a man possessed (of course, some of you really think he IS possessed).
2. Kyle Busch- (Up from 3rd to 2nd)- Shrub is off to a much better start in this Chase than he was in 2008. He says he learned a lot about how to compete for a championship from his run last year in the Nationwide Series. To key for Busch: 1. Keep your cool, even when things are bad, and 2. Having equipment that holds up. If I’m a Kyle fan, I am slightly concerned at the mechanical issues that dog JGR from time to time.
1. Jimmie Johnson- (Rising like the Phoenix from 6th to 1st)- History repeats itself. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Jimmie has a bad week. Jimmie bounces back by winning. We’ve seen this movie before. That could be an ominous sign. Kansas is key.
FALLING OFF THE PACE
Ryan Newman has been pretty darn decent of late, with four top tens in his last five races. You could make the argument he belongs in the top ten over his teammate and employer…and the roller coaster ride continues for Jamie McMurray. It must mean a good week at Kansas is coming.
DISTANT THUNDER
Props to A.J. Allmendinger for his improbable run at Dover. Good things may be around the corner…Joey Logano continues showing flashes of potential.
by Patrick Reynolds on September 28, 2010
The vanilla ice cream is drizzled in chocolate syrup. Some white bread is toasted and covered with cinnamon and powdered sugar. A pair of Cup drivers forgot about political correctness and let the attitudes and emotions fly at Dover.
Clint Bowyer’s car was found to be out of tolerance in a NASCAR inspection following his New Hampshire win. He was hit with a steep penalty.
At the past weekend’s race Denny Hamlin called out Bowyer and Richard Childress Racing for building illegal cars. RCR drivers Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick did not take kindly to Hamlin’s comments. Harvick physically let his displeasure known.
Driving out of the garage area onto the speedway for practice, Harvick ran into the back of Hamlin’s car at a lower speed before they accelerated. The agitated driver then pulled alongside Hamlin’s right side and cut down to the left on a banked corner. Some damage resulted.
There was a heated exchange of words and gestures in the garage area between drivers and crewmembers. The machines were even garaged next to one another. The perfect storm.
If you are looking for uptight professional and polished behavior the mark was missed. If you happen to be a freelance writer and host a radio show, then it was gold material.
This is the type of fire the sport has been missing. Agree or disagree with whomever you please. Pick a side. But it is a good story with some spice.
RCR built equipment that pushed NASCAR boundaries. Good. Hamlin spoke his mind and didn’t hold back or care if he upset somebody. Nice. Harvick got pissed and ruined Hamlin’s and his own practice but let his feelings known in an original and exciting way. Excellent.
Without Bowyer’s penalty, Hamlin’s remarks, or Harvick’s outrage what would we be talking or writing about?
I will tell you: the Jimmie Johnson juggernaut that has started to play out true to form. This is the time when that particular Hendrick car plays the Chase game better than anyone else is. I have lost track of how many complaints I have heard and fans that have been turned off by team 48. No disrespect to how good and successful they are, just a fact. Five straight titles would be another amazing accomplishment, but maybe not a popular one, at least with the current generation.
An ongoing Harvick/Hamlin feud involving entire teams would be like turning the history books back a few pages. I am reminded of Geoff Bodine and Dale Earnhardt. Or Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip. These rivalries were good stuff that was a continuing chapter every week on the speedway, in the garage area, and back to the shops during the week. Lines were drawn, loyalties decided and tension was an underlying subplot when the green flag waved.
This type of thing wasn’t diffused following the pushing and yelling. It was just beginning. And it was good.
Here’s to Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing. Have at it boys.
(Patrick Reynolds is a former NASCAR mechanic who hosts “Motorweek Live” Thursdays at 9pm ET. Bobby Allison joins this week’s program on www.racersreunionradio.com)
