[LSC9901]

DW's State of NASCAR address

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — - All kinds of things are going on at Daytona. We've had some excitement on the track, in the garage and in the media.

Breaking the law

No matter the rules or the potential penalties, teams always try to fudge a little bit and work in the gray area. There are so many NASCAR inspectors in the garage these days, and they know so much more than they used to know. It's almost impossible to get away with anything. Five cars are already in trouble. My brother's car is one of them. Trust me, folks. When he tells you he doesn't know what happened, or he doesn't know anything about an engine, he's not lying. He knows how to drive; he doesn't know anything about his car. We'll find out in a day or two what happened to his engine.
I'm not sure why the other guys — Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Scott Riggs and Elliott Sadler — who are locked into the top 35 would take a chance on anything that would be considered marginal. It doesn't make any sense to me. But they did it, so they'll start in the rear of the qualifying races, and they'll be without their crew chiefs for a few weeks.

The Chase

Everybody is talking about the adjustments made to the Chase. We're always going to have opinions about what needs to be done and what could be done and all of those things. I like bonus points for winning. You can't give a guy too many bonus points for going to Victory Lane. Pick a number, and I'd be happy with it. I like the fact that drivers in the Chase will carry bonus points into the Chase from wins in the first 26 races. But I don't like a couple of things. First of all, I don't like that the guy leading the points at the end of 26 races could start the Chase in 12th place. If other drivers have won races, and he hasn't, the regular season points leader could lose a significant lead and start the Chase in the hole. That just doesn't seem fair to me. If you're leading at the end of 26 races, you should stay on top to start the Chase. I don't know how big a bonus that should be, but you should get whatever bonus you need for leading the points at the end of 26 races to guarantee that you're still the points leader. That would only be fair.
I would also shorten the Chase to five races. Ten races over two and a half months is too long. People lose interest. If you shorten it up to five races, it would add a lot of drama, and it would be more like a playoff and the NCAA tournament. If you lose a game, you're out. It would really tighten up things. Shorten up the Chase.
Other than that and the wing on the Car of Tomorrow, I think everything is going pretty well.

Skepti-car of tomorrow

Oh, by the way, most owners still haven't gotten comfortable with whether NASCAR is going to make any more significant changes to the Car of Tomorrow or not. Why do I say that? NASCAR introduced a 17 3/4-gallon fuel cell, and they were going to run it everywhere so teams wouldn't have to change fuel cells back and forth. Well, guess what? There were tire problems during testing at Las Vegas. What does NASCAR want to do? Change the fuel cell. That doesn't make any sense to me. We've got a tire problem so let's change the fuel cell. Apparently they're going to run the small fuel cell in Vegas, which means there will be a ton of pit stops. It will be hard to get any real flow in the race, and that's unfortunate.
We haven't even run a race yet, and the rules are already being changed. That's one reason why teams continue to drag their feet on the COT. They just don't have confidence that something else won't get changed. I might be totally wrong about that, but that's my opinion.
A lot of teams aren't building very many COTs, and I don't blame them because I keep hearing about how the car is going to do this and the car is going to do that. It's going to be safer and do all of these things. The car hasn't been in competition, and there's only been a limited amount of testing. How do we know what this car is going to do and react? How do we know what's going to happen to it when it crashes into a wall at 150 mph? We've figured out the current car pretty well so most of us old-school drivers and owners are like guys from Missouri. Show me why the COT is better!

Dale Jr. and DEI

I can certainly identify with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his situation with Dale Earnhardt Inc. I started my own race team back in 1991 because I wanted to be in control of my future. I just wanted to be able to say what I wanted to do and what I didn't want to do and how I wanted to do it. Initially, I was very successful. I had five wins and some poles. As a car owner, I had seven wins in Cup racing: two when I started back in the mid-'70s and five in the Western Auto car. With the resources that Dale Jr. has and the people with whom he's surrounding himself — his sister Kelley and others at JR Motorsports — I have all the confidence in the world that he could start his own team.
He wants 51 percent control of DEI, and he should have it. I don't think that Dale Jr. feels like he's appreciated. I think he feels like he's just a contracted driver and not a family member. That has a whole lot to do with where he is right now. He wants significant equity in Dale Earnhardt Inc., and I don't blame him one bit. I'm right there with him. DEI wouldn't be DEI without Dale Earnhardt Jr. so I hope he and Teresa can work out something. If they can't, Dale Jr. has so many options. I'm sure he'll make it just fine, no matter what he decides to do.

League of opportunity

NASCAR offers drivers, sponsors and manufacturers a lot of opportunities. That's why Toyota is here. This sport sells products. If a Toyota wins a race, it's going to sell more Toyotas. Whatever sponsor is on the car — whether it's Dominos, Burger King, NAPA or UPS — those sponsors are going to see an increase in sales. It's documented. You can track it. This sport doesn't just offer great competition, a lot of places to race and a place where drivers can make a lot of money. When you spend a dollar, you get a dollar in return. Drivers like Juan Pablo Montoya want to be here because they can get sponsors to come to NASCAR.

[oncea3fan]

did anyone catch what DW said in the begining of the 1st race.
something about "I bet mikey wishes he had that specail fuel now"
might not be word for word but I couldn't believe his own brother fired on him like that.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

did anyone catch what DW said in the begining of the 1st race.
something about "I bet mikey wishes he had that specail fuel now"
might not be word for word but I couldn't believe his own brother fired on him like that.

I didn't catch any of the races since I'm a working stiff, but it shows there may be hope for DW yet. He was on Larry King (CNN) last night with Rusty Wallace and he said he gets accused of talking about his brother and Toyota too much. Maybe we will see a new Darrell this year?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

I didn't catch any of the races since I'm a working stiff, but it shows there may be hope for DW yet. He was on Larry King (CNN) last night with Rusty Wallace and he said he gets accused of talking about his brother and Toyota too much. Maybe we will see a new Darrell this year?

Far be it for me to defend Dim Wit but I can understand why one would be excited to talk about your manufacturer and your brother but .......... That is just another reason he shouldn't be in the booth. He is there to be a color commentator. He blabs on way to much about things that he shouldn't and gives opinions that are better suited for most anyplace other than on the air.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Far be it for me to defend Dim Wit but I can understand why one would be excited to talk about your manufacturer and your brother but .......... That is just another reason he shouldn't be in the booth. He is there to be a color commentator. He blabs on way to much about things that he shouldn't and gives opinions that are better suited for most anyplace other than on the air.

Yep, and then today during final practice, he basicly said that NASCAR should not be policing intent, referring to Gordons penalty. I guess he thinss everyone should have been punished as harshly as Mikey. I don't see Gordons broken part to be anywhere near the level of infraction as the 55's. And McReynods seemed to feel the same way. I caught the talk after they had started, if anyone else heard the whole thing and can enlighten the rest of us.

[Mike24]

The Chase

Everybody is talking about the adjustments made to the Chase. We're always going to have opinions about what needs to be done and what could be done and all of those things. I like bonus points for winning. You can't give a guy too many bonus points for going to Victory Lane. Pick a number, and I'd be happy with it. I like the fact that drivers in the Chase will carry bonus points into the Chase from wins in the first 26 races. But I don't like a couple of things. First of all, I don't like that the guy leading the points at the end of 26 races could start the Chase in 12th place. If other drivers have won races, and he hasn't, the regular season points leader could lose a significant lead and start the Chase in the hole. That just doesn't seem fair to me. If you're leading at the end of 26 races, you should stay on top to start the Chase. I don't know how big a bonus that should be, but you should get whatever bonus you need for leading the points at the end of 26 races to guarantee that you're still the points leader. That would only be fair.
I would also shorten the Chase to five races. Ten races over two and a half months is too long. People lose interest. If you shorten it up to five races, it would add a lot of drama, and it would be more like a playoff and the NCAA tournament. If you lose a game, you're out. It would really tighten up things. Shorten up the Chase.
Other than that and the wing on the Car of Tomorrow, I think everything is going pretty well.

Dosen't this bring us back to consistency? I think the way the point system is now is fine. It puts more emphasis on winning, and whoever has the most wins gets the lead. If we do it this way, this brings it back to consistency, wanting to lead the points after the 26th race.

[clutch]

Originally Posted by Mike24

Dosen't this bring us back to consistency? I think the way the point system is now is fine. It puts more emphasis on winning, and whoever has the most wins gets the lead. If we do it this way, this brings it back to consistency, wanting to lead the points after the 26th race.

Too right Mike, DW missed the whole point about the bonus for the wins.

He must be a Kenseth fan.........actually I think he's the old Kenseth

[Gr8RaceFan]

I absolutely cannot stand the sound of a Waltrip voice. I love watching the programs on speed but I dont watch as much as I used to simply because I have heard all of his foolishness I can stand. Both of them use their air time to promote their own ideas, friends, and products and hammering the drivers they dont like or approve of. Just like DW did with Tony last year until Tony called him out and then he quit. Michael talks bad about Jr. on the shows he is on all the time. Makes a point of calling out every error or misstep in his interviews.

Speaking of speed, who the heck is that crazy guy they give so much airtime too?? The one with the mohawk hair style?? What in the heck does he have to do with racing?? Is his father someone important?? All this talk about diversity in nascar and bringing the sport to all the people...well what image does this send out. Two yokels from Ky and a nut case with no purpose........

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Gr8RaceFan

I absolutely cannot stand the sound of a Waltrip voice. I love watching the programs on speed but I dont watch as much as I used to simply because I have heard all of his foolishness I can stand. Both of them use their air time to promote their own ideas, friends, and products and hammering the drivers they dont like or approve of. Just like DW did with Tony last year until Tony called him out and then he quit. Michael talks bad about Jr. on the shows he is on all the time. Makes a point of calling out every error or misstep in his interviews.

Speaking of speed, who the heck is that crazy guy they give so much airtime too?? The one with the mohawk hair style?? What in the heck does he have to do with racing?? Is his father someone important?? All this talk about diversity in nascar and bringing the sport to all the people...well what image does this send out. Two yokels from Ky and a nut case with no purpose........

The crazy guy you see is Rutledge. He is just what you see him as. His job is to do just exactly what you see him do. In effect he is supposed to ad some levity to the broadcast.

DW (Dim Wit) a bad guy ??? How could anyone view him as a poor announcer. Sadly for the race fans he was the wrong guy in the right place. As much as I dislike him due to his immaturity, he does have racing knowledge. If that portion of his ability was used he might be OK but my perception is that is not what he should be doing. His position is that of a "color announcer". He should be adding a technical side to the broadcast, instead he tries to jam his association with Toyota and his cheating brother down our throats. All the time while he is doing that he is, as you noted, bad mouthing others. I'm sure we all do the same but not with a viewing/listening audience of millions. I'll trade him for Benny right now !!!

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

DW's State of NASCAR address

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — - All kinds of things are going on at Daytona. We've had some excitement on the track, in the garage and in the media.

Breaking the law

No matter the rules or the potential penalties, teams always try to fudge a little bit and work in the gray area. There are so many NASCAR inspectors in the garage these days, and they know so much more than they used to know. It's almost impossible to get away with anything. Five cars are already in trouble. My brother's car is one of them. Trust me, folks. When he tells you he doesn't know what happened, or he doesn't know anything about an engine, he's not lying. He knows how to drive; he doesn't know anything about his car. We'll find out in a day or two what happened to his engine.

If you buy that Mikey doen't know anything about his car I got some ocean-front property in Kansas to sell you. Everybody knows that Mikey grew up at the tracks and in the shops, hell he has more mechanical knowledge than some of the ARCA crew chiefs As for DW I don't really like him but he is a better announcer than he was as a driver.

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by Tuck4Bama

If you buy that Mikey doen't know anything about his car I got some ocean-front property in Kansas to sell you. Everybody knows that Mikey grew up at the tracks and in the shops, hell he has more mechanical knowledge than some of the ARCA crew chiefs As for DW I don't really like him but he is a better announcer than he was as a driver.

Originally Posted by LSC9901

The crazy guy you see is Rutledge. He is just what you see him as. His job is to do just exactly what you see him do. In effect he is supposed to ad some levity to the broadcast.

DW (Dim Wit) a bad guy ??? How could anyone view him as a poor announcer. Sadly for the race fans he was the wrong guy in the right place. As much as I dislike him due to his immaturity, he does have racing knowledge. If that portion of his ability was used he might be OK but my perception is that is not what he should be doing. His position is that of a "color announcer". He should be adding a technical side to the broadcast, instead he tries to jam his association with Toyota and his cheating brother down our throats. All the time while he is doing that he is, as you noted, bad mouthing others. I'm sure we all do the same but not with a viewing/listening audience of millions. I'll trade him for Benny right now !!!

Hey LS,

Mind if I borrow The Dim Witt for DW and would you please Tell me ho to pull an exerpt from a quote?


Thanks in advance
Scott

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Far be it for me to defend Dim Wit but I can understand why one would be excited to talk about your manufacturer and your brother but .......... That is just another reason he shouldn't be in the booth. He is there to be a color commentator. He blabs on way to much about things that he shouldn't and gives opinions that are better suited for most anyplace other than on the air.

Ned Jarrett spent how many years in the booth and can you remember one single incidence of Ned reminding the audience that he was once a NASCAR champion, had one of the highest wins-to-starts record in NASCAR history, or was the driver who pulled a fatally injured Fireball Roberts from a burning wreck? The only time I ever saw or heard him show preference to his son was in 2000 when Ken Squier and Mike Joy turned off their mikes, stood back and let Ned talk his son home in the Daytona 500.

DW was a great driver and he feels about this new NASCAR is much the same way many of us do (in some respects, anyway. But, damn! Put him in front of a TV camera, or give him a live microphone and he makes a political speech given by some third-rate crook (ooops! I meant to say politician) seem interesting and classy, by comparison!

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

The only time I ever saw or heard him show preference to his son was in 2000 when Ken Squier and Mike Joy turned off their mikes, stood back and let Ned talk his son home in the 2000 Daytona 500.

Wasn't that 1993 Bob... That was the year Dale broke out by beating Earnhardt Sr in the 500(the first time).

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Wasn't that 1993 Bob... That was the year Dale broke out by beating Earnhardt Sr in the 500(the first time).

Ooops! I stand corrected. Old Teflon Brain does it again. Too many years on my end, and too many Daytona;s on their's.

Would you believe me if I said it seems like it was only seven years ago? Time flies, or as the frogs say, "Time's fun when your having flies."

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Ooops! I stand corrected. Old Teflon Brain does it again. Too many years on my end, and too many Daytona;s on their's. Time flies, or as the frogs say, "Times fun when your having flies."

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