[NASCAR Gnome]

I was watching NASCAR Performance on Speed TV with Larry Mac, Chad Knaus and Bootie Barker this afternoon they were discussing the #48 and the problems Knaus' team had with their primary and backup cars at Darlington. Basically, JJ wadded up the primary in practice, went to the backup car and spun that one causing minor damage that they were later able to fix. What made me go "Huh?" and "Wow" was when Knaus, reacting to the second crash told his crew to "...get an 88 car out here, we're going to have to qualify THAT car!"

This is news to me. I guess as teammates, teams have access to the other team's equipment, up to an including a whole car! I found it very revealing though that Knaus' immediate reaction was NOT to go to the 24 team or 5 team for their cars but to the 88! Perhaps this is saying (or revealing) something that the crew chief of the back-to-back champion sees in the 88 team!

[jks812]

If you look at how the 88, 24 and 5 are running and had to use one of their cars, which one would you choose? So JJ is basically using Jr's back up car tonight?
But I do agree with you. Strange that he didn't go to the 24 instead.

[jks812]

Oops, went back and reread what I had missed. Didn't see at first where they were able to fix the car.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by jks812

If you look at how the 88, 24 and 5 are running and had to use one of their cars, which one would you choose? So JJ is basically using Jr's back up car tonight?
But I do agree with you. Strange that he didn't go to the 24 instead.

Could it have something to do with technicalities? I mean, I heard that Gordon is (on paper) the owner for the #48, right? Perhaps he's also (on paper) the owner of the #88, making that the only car that was officially considered a teammate?

[jks812]

I knew he was part owner of the 48, and if what he and Rick and JJ say, it's not just on paper. But I hadn't heard anything about the 88. I don't think that had alot to do with it though. Maybe it's just about performance lately. And the 88 and 48 are the only ones thats really doing pretty good, so far. Although I do think JG will be doing better before long, but don't have much hope the 5.

[LSC9901]

Without knowing anymore about this my guess would be that Jr.'s setup is closest to JJ's. Least amount of work required to make it to Jimmie's liking.

[GrimlockAutobot]

I'm pretty sure this happened at Lowe's a couple of years back. Bobby Labonte had to use one of Denny Hamlin's backup cars (Denny didn't qualify for the race.)

JGR slapped an 18 on the Fedex car and Bobby almost won with it. Jimmie Johnson just barely edged him out at the end.

Does anyone out there knoe if I'm remembering this correctly?

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Could it have something to do with technicalities? I mean, I heard that Gordon is (on paper) the owner for the #48, right? Perhaps he's also (on paper) the owner of the #88, making that the only car that was officially considered a teammate?

Gordon doesn't have anything to do with the 88 other than being a teammate, Rick Hendrick is the sole owner. Like some people have said it was probably something to do with how the 88 has been running and that Jr's setup is closer to JJ than Gordon's is.
Here is the team charts from Jayski that lists the owners of each car.

Jayski's® Silly Season 2008 Team 'Silly Season' Chart

[Racer Duck]

Gordon just recently stated when asked if he'd tried JJ's setup that it wouldn't work 'cause he and JJ have completely different driving styles and setups.

Knaus is, arguably, the best CC in NASCAR and knows which HMS setups are closest to the 48's. Evidently the 88 is the closest.

[3fanforever]

I wonder why TEJ changed the lower A frame on Junior's car before the race, especially after he'd qualified 2nd and scorched the track in practice.

“We had a real good car all weekend and when the race started, I knew we weren't exactly like we had been,” he said. “[Crew chief] Tony [Eury] Jr. told me right after the race we had changed a lower A-frame and that might have changed how the car rolled over and traveled and stuff and handled.

[Racer Duck]

just goes to show, there's a disconnect there that's affecting the bottom line. I like the fact that Tony Jr. is making decisions though this one doesn't make any sense at all. he needs to communicate with Dale Jr. better and sooner. sounds like he "confessed" the night's poor results was his fault. probably another reason why Junior's post race interviews are so sullen; makes you wonder how many other last minute "adjustments" he's made that went awry, doesn't it?