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Did Tony Stewart Really Win The Amp Energy 500?

By: Keith Bloemendaal

NASCAR really needs to get a handle on the way they enforce the rules at these restrictor plate races. Regan Smith crossed the finish line in first, but NASCAR rules he went below the yellow line and gave him a finishing position of 18th. Tony Stewart, as of the writing of this article won the Amp Energy 500.

The win is the Home Depot team's first this season.

The way I understood the yellow line rule is if you pass below the yellow line, you will be penalized. UNLESS YOU ARE FORCED BELOW THE LINE! While watching the end of the race, it was clear to me that Stewart forced Smith below the yellow line. Had Smith held his ground, Tony Stewart would have been in the wall on the frontstretch!

Some will also argue that the last lap is anything goes, NASCAR did away with that last season.

Other restrictor plate races have been just as controversial. In 2007 Jeff Gordon got pummeled with debris on his victory lap at the Aaron's 499 by the fans after NASCAR awarded the win to him through the use of scoring loops because the caution flew on the last lap.

Get a grip on this NASCAR! Set rules, enforce them the same week in and week out!

What do you think, am I wrong? Comment to give your opinion.

FavoriteTeamWear asks: Would the Points Race Be Different Without Chase Points?

After watching Kyle Busch fall to 12th in Sprint Cup Chase points over the last 2 weeks, I can't help but wonder where the chasers would be without the Chase setup. I did some research on this, and found that the points race would be different.

Chase Points After Dover:

Rank	Driver	Points	Behind Leader
1	Carl Edwards	5390	-------
2	Jimmie Johnson	5380	-10
3	Greg Biffle	5380	-10
4	Jeff Burton	5308	-82
5	Kevin Harvick	5289	-101
6	Clint Bowyer	5284	-106
7	Tony Stewart	5277	-113
8	Jeff Gordon	5272	-118
9	Dale Earnhardt Jr	5261	-129
10	Matt Kenseth	5123	-167
11	Denny Hamlin	5197	-193
12	Kyle Busch	5180	-210

While I believe everyone in the Chase still has a chance to win the Championship, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin really need to get their acts together to get there.

Dale Earnhardt Jr has fallen significantly, but still has a chance if he can win Talledega and Texas, which he historically runs well at for both.

All in all, the Sprint Chase For The Cup is still up for grabs, and any of the teams still have a chance to win it, or to throw it away.

In contrast, let us look at the points if there was no Chase Points:

Rank	Driver	Points	Behind Leader
1	Carl Edwards	4011	----
2	Kyle Busch	3978	-33
3	Jimmie Johnson	3916	-95
4	Dale Earnhardt Jr	3739	-272
5	Jeff Burton	3682	-329
6	Greg Biffle	3660	-351
7	Kevin Harvick	3572	-439
8	Tony Stewart	3562	-449
9	Jeff Gordon	3493	-518
10	Denny Hamlin	3422	-589
11	Clint Bowyer	3390	-621
12	Matt Kenseth	3355	-656

As you can see, this would be a much different chase, had the points not been realigned with 10 races to go. It would only be a 3 car race at this point, a Ford, a Toyota, and a Chevrolet. Also, three teams: Rousch, Gibbs, and Hendrick.

Kyle Busch would obviously be in better shape.

Looking at the top three, Jimmie Johnson would have more work to do to win a historical Championship for him (3 in a row). Kyle Busch would only be 33 points behind leader Carl Edwards, showing the benefits of having such a strong season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr, and everyone behind him could almost be counted out, making it a three car race.

I can't help but wonder, is the Chase For The Cup really more exciting, or is it unfair to those having raced so well all season, only to fall back from 1st to 12th after 2 races.

What do you think? Is the Chase setup better?

Dale Earnhardt Jr Upset About Tires, More Security Needed:

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.

Tony Stewart Trashes Home Depot Team Concluding Race at Richmond!

By: Keith Bloemendaal

Tony Stewart is well known for having anger issues on and off the track. Concluding the end of the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway, Tony lashed out at his team for causing him to lose the race. "Nice job guys, you gave another one away!", were the words all of us watching the race on ESPN heard. "We win together, and we lose together" is what Stewart heard back over the race radio from his crew chief, Greg Zipadelli.

Stewart's Home Depot team didn't necessarily lose the race for him, but failed to get him out in front of Jimmie Johnson on the final pit stop. Tony Stewart pulled onto the pits in 1st, came out in 2nd, and could not get by Jimmie Johnson for the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 win.

Track position at Richmond for the end of the race proved to be how the race was won. As Tony Stewart caught Jimmie Johnson, it proved to be a battle of sponsors with the Lowes Chevrolet leading and the Home Depot Toyota trailing close behind. Tony got under Jimmie Johnson but couldn't seem to make the pass, and the result was Tony Stewart blaming his crew for the loss.

I am sure there are many drivers who take losses out on the crew, especially when the crew consistently makes mistakes, but the Home Depot crew is one that usually does a great job for Tony Stewart.

Since Stewart will be driving for his own team next year with Darian Grubb announced this week as his new crew chief for the #14 Chevrolet, I hope he can lead the team with the same "win together, lose together" mindset that his current crew chief has.

Maybe, Tony should remember that this is a team sport, and the words from crew chief Greg Zipadelli should be taken seriously.

What do you think, was Tony out of line when he blamed the crew for the loss?

Richmond International Raceway Hosts Final Race Before Sprint Cup Chase: 4 Spots Still Up For Grabs!

By: Keith Bloemendaal

Clint Bowyer and the Jack Daniel's 07 Chevy Impala is sitting in 12th spot, on the bubble, with the final race set for Saturday September 6th, 2008. He is not safely in that position, and needs to qualify and race well on this Saturday Night Shoot Out!

Denny Hamlin in the #11 FedEx Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota is 76 points ahead of Bowyer in 11th place. That seems to be a good lead in points, but we have seen before that anything can happen, especially during Saturday Night racing on a short track.

Six drivers will be fighting for the final 4 spots in the Sprint Cup Chase. Even 8th place Tony Stewart in the Home Depot #20 Toyota is not safe with a lead of 121 points over the 12th place Bowyer.

Kasey Kahne is in 12th, 48 points back from the spot to get his #9 Budweiser Dodge in the Chase for the Cup. If he  qualifies, and races well, he has a good chance of getting in the Chase, but will have to hope for some bad luck for David Ragan and Clint Bowyer.

All of this equals up to an exciting race in at Richmond International Raceway, on a Saturday night, with everything on the line for some drivers. This is do or die for those not locked in, and for the ones sitting just outside the bubble.

So, tighten up those belts, get up on that steering wheel, this will be NASCAR racing at its finest!

We will have live updates for qualifying and race action her one FavoriteTeamWear, and on Twitter, just follow favteamwear for the twitter updates.

NASCAR Drivers Are Changing Rides, What Do You Do?

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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