O.K., so it isn't pretty. It might not even be anything to brag about. But Bobby Hamilton Jr. is steady and he perseveres as he moves in to sixth place in the Busch Series standings this week. Bobby remains second in the Busch regular standings to Jason Leffler.
From bobbyhamiltonjr.com
The ability to overcome adversity allowed Bobby Hamilton, Jr., driver of the Eckrich Meats/Kroger/McDonald’s Ford, to finish in 13th place on Saturday Night. After a penalty for speeding on pit road dropped Hamilton back to 28th position with less than 100 laps to go, Hamilton began his charge back to the front. The determination allowed Hamilton to grab the 13th place finish and move to sixth in the NASCAR Busch Series Point’s Championship.
“The penalty hurt us, it kept us from probably finishing around sixth or seventh,” Hamilton said. “Our car was strong all night long, and we helped ourselves in the point’s race again.” “We really enjoyed driving this car for Eckrich Meats and Kroger. We got to meet a lot of their customers and employees this week and that’s always a lot of fun.”
Jason Leffler, a regular driver on the Busch Series, rocketed his way past Nextel Cup driver Greg Biffle for the win late in the race. The Busch Series will now head North of the border for a road course race in Montreal on Saturday. Check your local listings for broadcast times in your area.
Now don't jump on me here, lol , What do think BGN should do to help the lower ball teams get something out of a season ? This cause of the Cup teams and crews taking up all the wins, championships, Most of all the money ? I know Busch likes it with a few cup driver that being more fans in the stands. Cheers
Once again, money comes into play, Forensic. The track owners (most of whom are ISC, which is owned by the France family) want a decent gate from the Busch races. ESPN wants good ratings. So nobody in a position to do anything about it is going to discourage Busch wacking.
So, where do you go to see tomorrow's drivers today and to get a developing driver the needed seat time?
Craftsman.
The economics of NCTS make so much more sense than Busch for both independents and development. The cost is much lower and the purses and sponsorship dollars are only slightly less.
Also, if I'm developing a driver, I want him getting truck time not Busch time because the trucks drive (and look) much more like the COT than what they have in Busch.
On top of that, you've got some guys who have made a career in trucks. Those are great people to learn how to race against.
The biggest change I think they should make in trucks is adding races.
Falco: "It might not even be anything to brag about."
Are you kidding me? That's incredible. Considering all that he has gone through in the past year, personally with his father's death, and professionally with ownership of the team, etc. etc., it is a great feat!
I am for 11 4-team Cup team franchises and the drivers can not run Busch. Then if those same people wind up having the best development teams with development drivers, then so be it. At least some young cats are old dogs will get to drive the things. And the result, in my opinion, will be a racing series that easily presents the closest rival to the Cup series.
Since Busch is in Canada this week and the Cup is in POCONO, will we have many cup drivers going to CANADA for the Busch race.. Don't know the distance between tracks here>>
To me, the Busch races seem to be more interesting to watch with less Cup drivers...
I don't think anyone actually has ever told me they didn't think my point had ANY validity. :)
There are going to be 7 Cup guys doing the double this week. The Gang of Three (Edwards, Reutimann, Ragan) and Harvick, Jeff Burton, Robby Gordon, and Biffle again.
I'll post the whole entry list either tomorrow or Thursday. It's going to look a LOT like Mexico did, with a lot of road course-ringers.
"I don't think anyone actually has ever told me they didn't think my point had ANY validity. :)"
We are just being nice to you..Seriously, you are the wizzard on the points and stats on the drivers..I use you ratings on William's trifecta. Some times it pays and some times Johnson crashes when I pick him..
I think the Yates/Newman/Haas/Doe/Jones/Smith merger hurts Bobby. I expect we will see Sebastian Bourdais in the 88 next year. McDonalds's already sponsors him in Champ Car and may sponsor him in NASCAR Nextel Cup. This aughta be good. I can see Bourdais driving the 35 Busch car too for seat time he will need.
The merger probably keeps Leicht in Busch. I assume he will stay in the Yates car.
Maybe Gilliland will quit driving Busch. But actually, he still needs the seat time. So that probably won't happen either.
Bobby may be out of a ride for next year unfortunately. He may wish he hadn't burned those bridges at BHR.
I'm telling you, Falcons, it's the Aussie colours on his car that's doing the trick. If Bobby had started the year with that he'd be leading the points right now, lol :P
According to Robin Miller it's going to be Leicht and Krisiloff in Yates/NHL Busch cars next year, so I would think Rensi could still be able to sponge off Yates, although I'd think they would at least want to look around, since their cars are kind of apcray.
Bourdais has denied he's is going Cup racing. It looks pretty certain he'll end up at STR.
Well, that would work out better for Bobby. That is for sure. I will be happy if he can stay in the Mc Donald's 35. That would leave Gilliland in the 25 too.
If he can't get a decent F1 seat, then NASCAR is his next best option. He has considered it before. With his owner buying into a NASCAR team it certainly looks like an option.
Then tie-in Boordais is sponsored by McDonald's. Yates sold a part of his company to Bourdais' owners, NHL. Ed Rensi made his money owning McDonald's franchises and he buys engines from Yates. It starts to appear that the stars are aligning around Yates for McDonald's to re-enter Cup racing with Bourdais.
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