[Racer Duck]

was just looking at the NASCAR Power Rankings .. about fell out of my chair when I saw this one:

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Irony: The 100-point penalties for COT infractions have been assessed against three guys who will be teammates in 2008.

there's others just as good! check it out NASCAR.COM

[jks812]

Got a feeling Jr better get use to that....lol

[LSC9901]

How does that saying go .... "The family that cheats together stays together." ?????

[Lefturn]

Many of the sports greatest drivers were involved in 'cheating'. It's part of the sport only it's called 'engineering' or creativity.

Because Hendrick is getting slapped all the Gordon/Johnson haters are foaming at the mouth.

Do you remember when Tony Stewart had a car IMPOUNDED because it was so messed up NASCAR wanted to tear it apart? This took place at a time when Gibbs cars were running up front consistantly. Coincidence?

Drivers are gonna push the car to the limit and sometimes cross the line. So are crew cheifs and engine builders. Sometimes they get caught, sometimes they don't. Is it right? Nope, but I'll wager every team has done it or is doing something in order to gain a slight edge.

[jks812]

Oh wait, he'll be in the 5 or 25, so he might not have to worry about it.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Lefturn

Many of the sports greatest drivers were involved in 'cheating'. It's part of the sport only it's called 'engineering' or creativity.

and sometimes they're just having fun: a bunch of years ago at the local track one of the more "infamous" drivers showed up with a big block in his racer (rules only allowed small blocks) - he had a great time that night won everything before driving out the gate and home in his racer when they tried to tech him .. back then they mailed the check to you - he never got his

[McMurray26]

Originally Posted by jks812

Oh wait, he'll be in the 5 or 25, so he might not have to worry about it.

look i am not a huge hendrick fan but why are people always ripping him about two of his cars being spectacular and the other two not, why does gibbs not get the same treatment about the 20 & 11 and the 18? you are always going to have your a's and b's

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by McMurray26

look i am not a huge hendrick fan but why are people always ripping him about two of his cars being spectacular and the other two not, why does gibbs not get the same treatment about the 20 & 11 and the 18? you are always going to have your a's and b's

probably because 2 are extremely successful and 2 are not - most folks think the driver's talent for all four are close, so the only explanation for the vast difference in performance has got to do with the equipment: the "haves" and the "have-nots".

in addition, both organizations seem to reflect their owner's moral character: Joe a devout Christian, Rick a convicted felon. (here comes the hate mail!!!)

[jks812]

Originally Posted by McMurray26

look i am not a huge hendrick fan but why are people always ripping him about two of his cars being spectacular and the other two not, why does gibbs not get the same treatment about the 20 & 11 and the 18? you are always going to have your a's and b's

Not ripping him about 2 being great and the other 2 not, ripping him about cheating. Totally different thing. Now,how many times has the 24 crew been caught cheating ( not just this year)? How many times for the 48? How many times for the 25? How many times for the 5? I don't know the exact times, but I'd be willing to bet the 24 and 48 have been caught ALOT more times than the 5 and 25.
As far as Gibbs, I don't see the 20 and 11 getting caught numerous times cheating and the 18 not getting caught.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

probably because 2 are extremely successful and 2 are not - most folks think the driver's talent for all four are close, so the only explanation for the vast difference in performance has got to do with the equipment: the "haves" and the "have-nots".

in addition, both organizations seem to reflect their owner's moral character: Joe a devout Christian, Rick a convicted felon. (here comes the hate mail!!!)

That's what I've been saying since I've been here, Duck. That's a fact which makes the politically correct and the Hendrick myrmidons feel very uncomfortable.

I admire his leadership and his ability to keep the money he acquires. However, his sense of character and ethical behaviour leaves (to me) much to be desired. Suffice it to say I would have been very disappointed if one of my sons announced, "Gee Dad, I want to grow up to be just like Rick Hendrick!" (Talk about the heartbreak of psoriasis)

I think most have completely forgotten his statement at Junior's press conference when he said (paraphrased) "It's my job to win races; it's NASCAR's job to police the rules." Take a few seconds to let the full ramifications of that statement sink in and it just kind of says it all about this latest Chad Knause fiasco, doesn't it?

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Lefturn

Do you remember when Tony Stewart had a car IMPOUNDED because it was so messed up NASCAR wanted to tear it apart? This took place at a time when Gibbs cars were running up front consistantly. Coincidence?

I beg to differ.... that was an accident. Gibbs even said they don't know how the x-measurement got out of line cause that car came out of the same line as the backup car they ran.

[wardfan]

myrmidons? I had to go find the dictionary for cripes sake

[Racer Duck]

on the HMS side:

• 24 is the premier car and driver. JG is the most talented they have and, by far the most successful. with that success comes pressure to deliver each week. sometimes that pressure translates into cheating.
• 48 is the protege of 24. JJ is a talented driver, but not nearly as aggressive as JG, more of a "pretty car" racer if you will - don't bend anything! being the heir-apparent brings certain "privileges" as well as it's own level of pressure to produce. arguably, the JJ has the best "chief of the boat" in racing, so there's no reason not to succeed. again pressure => cheating. (and if the crown prince is trying to dethrone the king anything goes...)
• 5 is the "hot shot" car. TL drove it for years - and won a few championships. Tony the Tiger roared a lot, but was really pretty vanilla. since TL left there's been little reason "push the envelope", not with a King and a Crown Prince leading the parade! and top 10 plus an occasional "W" has been always been good enough. but not for Kyle who has been pushing their limits and being frustrated because he could reach those limits so easily. he's so disgusted with it he's leaving. but next year, when the long lost son with the most liked face and name around (DEJ) "comes home", then they will rule the world! a championship around every corner! argh, the pressure!!!
• 25 is the "aura" car. since Richmond's untimely passing, there's been somewhat of a "religiousness" about not defaming that sacred number. the drivers, while very talented, seemed to always be limited by mundane equipment and personnel. but 25 & CM have been running good enough to capture a "W" .. maybe more this year...

on the JGR side:

• 20 is the big gun and TS can race on any kind of track any time and beat you! he's a little(?) temper-mental, but to get the "W", you can overlook a little temper. the press is on for the "W"s and the championship that he would have had last year if only... anybody that gets in the way will be trampled!
• 11 is the big surprise and DH is proving to be as good behind the wheel as TS, maybe not as talented, but certainly as aggressive when he needs to be. however DH covers up his aggressiveness with a "nice guy" persona. still they're chasing "W"s while leading this camp to the chase.
• 18 is the big slide and JY is hoping he's got it turned around. the previous driver (BL, younger brother of TL, from 5 above) won championships in this car, but when the slide came, he left. nobody knows why the slide, but it happened. seems to be headed back up. with some top 10's and a few "W"s the chase is within grasp...

so what we have here is a King and Crown Prince leading assorted nobility (some with little allegiance) against "the Horde", those barbaric drivers led by an unshaven, bleary-eyed, butter-ball of a zealot and his side kick, a clean shaven, quiet spoken kid, who believe the world should bow to them. along the way there are other "groups/tribes" who tend to interfere in, and distract attention from, the main battle. the King and/or Crown Prince must prevail! the Horde intends to divide the spoils among themselves and rule the world (with divine assistance, of course!)

at least, that's how I see it.

[Souporscotty]

I HATE irony! I don't get it.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

on the HMS side:[list]
]so what we have here is a King and Crown Prince leading assorted nobility (some with little allegiance) against "the Horde", those barbaric drivers led by an unshaven, bleary-eyed, butter-ball of a zealot and his side kick, a clean shaven, quiet spoken kid, who believe the world should bow to them. along the way there are other "groups/tribes" who tend to interfere in, and distract attention from, the main battle. the King and/or Crown Prince must prevail! the Horde intends to divide the spoils among themselves and rule the world (with divine assistance, of course!)

at least, that's how I see it.

But, history shows the "Empire" becomes powerful, yet decadent and corrupt. (They cheat on a regular basis) Then the Vandals, Huns and Visigoths (Gibbs, Childress, Ginn) increase pressure and the "Empire" crumbles from within, even though, on the surface, it appears to be indestructible. Then no more do we hear "Julius" Hendrick utter, "Vini Vedi Vici."

To paraphrase Santayana, "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it."