Dale Earnhardt Jr Upset About Tires, More Security Needed:

September 15, 2008 · Filed Under Commentary, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Drivers, Kyle Bush, NASCAR, Sprint Cup, tony stewart · Comment 

By: Keith Bloemendaal

Dale Jr lead 79 Laps at Louden, New Hampshire during the 1st Race in the chase for the Sprint Cup on Sunday. It wasn't enough to get his National Guard/Amp Energy Chevy to Victory Lane. The Culprit: Tires.

Earnhardt was heard on the radio demanding more security for the tires. Saying he needed to "find a series that runs half distance races".

We have witnessed this phenomenon of Jr leading a good amount of laps, then just loosing the handle on the Hendrick owned Chevy towards the end. Usually falling back out of contention.

One such incident actually caused Kyle Busch to run into him during the Richmond race, and the tires couldn't hold up to keep Dale from spinning out!

Rick Hendrick came over the radio to try and calm the situation, and now the rest of the media are saying Jr had a hissy fit. Yes, I did join the chastising of Tony Stewart last week for his comments over the radio. The difference here, I believe, is that Dale Earhardt Jr praised his team for speedy pit stops and making passes in the pits. Obviously, the two incidents are completely different.

I think Dale Jr has a point, and should address the problem with why this phenomenon happens late in the race for the National Guard/Amp Energy Hendrick Motorsports team.

It is well known to most fans that Jr can get testy on the radio, as many drivers do. He simply blamed the tires, in his own way. Maybe some bodyguards are needed in the garage area, maybe Kyle Busch is paying someone to sabotage Dale's tires! Maybe not.

Either way, action is needed to figure out the problem, and getting to victory lane during this chase (maybe multiple times) will be necessary for any driver wishing to have a chance for the Sprint Cup Championship.

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Jimmie Johnson 3Peat - Is it Sprint Cup History in the Making?

By: Keith Bloemendaal

For some reason, I had been thinking this was going to be Kyle Busch or Carl Edwards year to win the Cup. It is easy to wrapped up in what is happening now, and forget about the other 12 drivers in the Chase for the Cup. How can we rule out Jimmie Johnson?

Johnson repeated his championship run last year, putting his name up there with a handful of GREAT drivers including Dale Earnhardt Sr, David Pearson, Richard Petty, and Jeff Gordon just to name a few who repeated championship seasons.

This alone is an accomplishment which makes him a driver to be remembered in NASCAR history.  Repeating a Sprint Cup Championship is no easy feat, especially in this era of racing, when the competition has never been more intense. NASCAR drivers are getting younger, faster and more clever. Some people think once a driver reaches 30 he has past his prime.

Sprint Cup drivers like Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne are emerging at very young ages while just next season 18 year old Joey Legano will drive the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing.

So, if Jimmie Johnson were to 3peat his name would only be mentioned with one other driver, Cale Yarborough. Can he do it? We will find out over the next 11 races, but I can guarantee you Johnson thinks he can, I think he can, thousands of other fans think he can, even a handful of so called NASCAR experts think he can. But, that doesn't mean it will happen.

Just in case you forgot, Johnson was 6th in points after the California race last year. It was his unbelievable 4 wins in a row out of the last 5 races in the Chase that earned him his championship last year. He won at Martinsville, then Atlanta, then Texas, then Phoenix and finished 7th at Miami-Homestead to beat Jeff Gordon by 77 points. Yes, 4 races in a row! If Jimmie Johnson can come on that strong for the finish this year, he WILL 3peat!

What do you think, can anyone beat Kyle Busch, or Carl Edwards? Can Jimmie Johnson 3peat? What about one of the other 9 drivers that will be in the chase? Leave a comment to let us know your opinion.

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NASCAR Drivers Are Changing Rides, What Do You Do?

August 29, 2008 · Filed Under Apparel, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Diecast, Kyle Bush, Ryan Newman, tony stewart · 1 Comment 

By: Keith Bloemendaal

As I was watching the practice and qualifying runs today on Speed Channel, I began looking at the bigger name drivers who will be changing rides next year. As well as those who are in new rides this year. My driver (I will keep his name to myself) changed last year to a new team, new number, and a new sponsor.

I found myself with lots of memorabilia and apparel that didn't go with the driver I rooted for anymore. In my case, the driver went to a new team, his old sponsor went to a different team (and a different manufacturer), and his number went to a new driver. So, I had to ask myself if I wanted to keep any of that apparel, die cast, hats, visors, posters (yes I still buy posters), pens, and other memorabilia I had collected over the years. It was a tough decision, but I opted to keep a few things, and start a new collection with the new sponsor and number for my driver.

So, with big names like Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and others moving at the end of this season. And names like Dale Jr., and Kyle Busch changing last year, what do the fans do? I think most stay with their drivers and, in turn, must recollect new apparel and memorabilia.

What are your thoughts on this? Is your driver changing rides at the end of the season? Will you follow the driver wherever they go? If so, check out the driver apparel, gifts, and other memorabilia here at Favorite Teamwear.

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Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards Get Probation for Post Race Activities

August 27, 2008 · Filed Under Carl Edwards, Drivers, Kyle Bush, NASCAR, Sprint Cup · Comment 

By: Keith Bloemendaal

Carl Edwards Backflip NASCAR announced today that it has placed Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 car, and Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 car, on probation for the next six races in the Sprint Cup Series. This comes as a result of their on-track incident Saturday night after the checkered flag had already waved, signaling the end of the race at Bristol.

According to NASCAR, Busch and Edwards violated Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; hitting another competitor's car after the race had concluded) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book.

This shows the immaturity of the young Busch, as I watched this unfold on TV Saturday night, I rewound my DVR several times to see Carl's bump and run move. From my view, Carl was not excessive in his move, and was obviously being held up by the 18 car of Kyle Busch. Edwards could have easily put Busch in the wall, but opted to lightly tap the back of Kyle's M&M's Toyota to slide him out of the way. And we all know, if Kyle was fast enough, he would have done the same to Carl.

The real offenses came after the race, when Kyle hit the 99 car several times after the race, then Edwards retaliated andKyle Busch with M&M's Toyota spun the 18 car on the track.

I think the penalty is fair, and if Carl would have left it alone after Kyle Busch bumped him, it would just be Kyle Busch on probation from NASCAR for the next 6 races.

The six race penalty will be tough on both racers as this will last 4 races into the Chase for the Cup. And both will have to be on there best behavior on the track (before, during and after the race).

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Kyle Bush Love Him or Hate Him?

August 16, 2008 · Filed Under Kyle Bush · 1 Comment 

2008 has been a fantastic season for Kyle Bush, love him or hate him everyone must be respectful of the success he has brought the Joe Gibbs Racing Team. 

Show your fan support for Kyle bush with some of these great items....

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Mark Martin Fills In Juniors Shoes at DEI Just Fine

Mark Martin Fills In Juniors Shoes - Just Fine Thank You

Officials at Dale Earnhardt Inc. could not have picked a better driver to fill the seat of the No. 8 in 2008. Popular veteran Mark Martin, 49, is into his second part-time season at the Cup level. Martin will compete in 24 races this year with rookie Aric Almirola, age 24, driving the other 12.

After scoring two top-10 finishes in his first five events this season, Martin had consecutive top-fives in his next two races-at Phoenix, where he led for 68 laps, and at Richmond. Dale Earnhardt Jr. had back-to-back top-fives only once in his final season at DEI. Martin also has three straight top-10s and appears to be picking up steam for the competitive months ahead.

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The Arkansas native and father of five will also drive in the May 17 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, an event he won just three seasons ago at age 46.

SceneDaily.com says Martin may be the best all around driver in NASCAR, even as he begins to ride into the sunset. While other drivers of similar age seem to be fading fast-e.g. Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty, et al.-DEI may consider hiring Martin for the long haul for as many races as he wants.

Replacing Earnhardt Jr. in one of the world's most recognizable cars, with the most tattooed and reproduced number in America , could not go to just any driver. When long-time sponsor Budweiser took its monogram off the hood of the fire-truck red Impala, the U.S. Army saved the day and the team, in part due to of Martin's image and stature in the sport. The nation's primary defense force had supported his part-time ride with Ginn Racing in '07 before DEI bought out the fledgling team, and gladly came on board in '08.

Martin, a 35-time winner at the Cup level with three runner-ups in the final point standings, along with four thirds but never a championship, had five top-fives in a part-time role for Ginn Racing last season (Ginn merged with DEI last summer). His last bridesmaid role came in '02. He had consecutive fourth-place finishes as recently as '04-'05.

The main excuse for Junior missing his second Chase in three seasons, and not winning in '07, was the "shoddy equipment" and "poor engines" he was handed. Martin, one of the greatest Busch (now Nationwide) Series drivers ever and a Cup racer since 1981, was certainly the best choice to take the wheel of the No. 8 and to mentor a promising newcomer in Almirola.

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Were it not for some lapped cars running unintentional interference at Richmond , Martin might have been in the position Clint Bowyer inherited when Kyle Busch and Junior had their late-race tango on May 3. As it is, Martin has out-performed nearly half the Cup field as a part-timer, and is fairing better than Earnhardt Jr. did one year ago with the same organization and much of the same crew.

Not bad for an 'aging' hired gun.

More articles about NASCAR news and auto racing can be found at http://www.speedweekly.net

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