Or, Why does my back hurt so much after watching 9.5 hours of racing in one shot?
Wednesday night is the first qualifying night for Modifieds. So, what does that mean for the fan? It means 40 modified heat races, 8 B Mains, and two A mains, all crammed into one evening. Three hundred and three modifieds checked into the pits for racing last night with a variety of states and Canadians represented.
But, before the modifieds took the track, there were still Saturday Night A Main positions for stock cars to fill. In the photo above, Luke Veren takes the lead off of turn two. Complete results are here. In all, fans were treated to 63 individual races, a couple of wrecks, a runaway stuffed skunk, and a visit by Dale Jr's National Guard car (No Dale Jr in sight).
By the time modifieds took the track, fans packed into the Grandstand anticipating a great show. By early the next morning, most were not disappointed. By the time racing was done at around 1:30 a.m., only 8 of the 303 modifieds qualified for Saturday's A Main. Naturally that means that the remaining modifieds will be back tonight for their Second Chance to qualify. In addition, Sports Mods (or B Mods) invade the speedway tonight for their first chance to qualify for their Saturday A Main. Once again, fans have approximately 72 races on the schedule for tonight/tomorrow morning.
Maybe the hours of racing is the reason fans prefer to stay at the track instead of going home or back to a a hotel. This is the mini-city that has sprung up around the track.
The Grandstands last night were full, even though the weather did not cooperate with race fans. With highs only in the mid-60's and a sharp wind, fans bundled up like it was a frostbuster instead of early September. The weather did not dampen fans enthusiasm or their tailgating. What else would a track farming session be good for?
Before the Sport Mods have checked in today, total car count is near 700 cars, and it is anticipated that the car count could be over 800 cars before the end of tonight. Combined with a $10 ticket for most nights of the week (Monday, Friday & Saturday are a bit more), where else can you watch this many cars race over a week long party?
Now remind me, why aren't you here? Listen online here at RaceTalkLive or here at Pitwall.
A fly on the wall on December 8, 2008 9:30 a.m. in Kannapolis, North Carolina, may hear:
Tony Stewart: Wow. This changed since I went to New York.
Secretary(via intercom) : Where have you been?
Stewart: (fumbling with intercombutton) Home. Why?
Secretary: Didn't you read the schedule we sent to your phone?
Stewart: No. I never check my messages before I get to the shop in the morning.
Secretary:(sound of exhaling breath) Oh. Well you missed the meeting with Joe Custer. And you're about to be late for the all shop meeting at 9:45.
Stewart: Okay. Where is the coffee?
Secretary: I'll get it. And I'll let Custer know you are here.
Stewart: What's the meeting about? Hello? (intercome shuts off). What is all this stuff? Stacks of catalogs. Speedway Motors catalogs. T-Shirt design samples. Media requests - ha - that'll be easy to put in the NO box.
Secretary: Teresa Earnhardt, Line 1.
Stewart: What the Hell? (Picks up phone) Teresa?
Teresa Earnhardt: Tony, congratulations again on your new team.
Stewart: Thanks.
Teresa: Have you given any more thought to the merger option we discussed in New York?
Stewart: Ummm. Noooooo.
Teresa: I really think it would work to our benefit.
Stewart: Ahhhhh... (Loud crash)
Secretary and Joe Custer: (sound of door opening and footsteps) What was that?
Stewart: Got to go. Talk to you later. (Call ended).
Custer: You threw your shoe at Martinsville clock!?
Stewart: I needed a diversion. Put Teresa on my "do not call" list. And get more glass for the clock.
Secretary: Ok. Is this a good time to ask for a raise?
Stewart: No problem. As long as you don't schedule anything before 10 a.m. And screen the calls from women I don't want to talk to.
Secretary: Deal.
Custer: Now you're negotiating salaries?
Stewart: If she handles things the way I want, she'll earn it.
Custer: Uh-huh. I brought in your schedule for the next few days. And a few important dates we have before Daytona.
Stewart: The day after Christmas you scheduled a sponsor meet and greet?
Custer: We have several to do and it fit. I know it is a bit odd, but they'll be able to get lots of kids there as they are on Christmas vacation.
Stewart: But I'm racing that day in Fort Wayne. And I'm at the Chili Bowl these dates in January. And I have to go to the season opening World of Outlaws races these dates in February.
Custer: Oh. Well. I guess we can move a few things around.
Stewart: While we're on that, put on the master schedule the dates of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride, the Knoxville Nations, and the Knoxville Late Model Nationals. There's the Prelude in June, and the Sprintweek in July.
Custer: When exactly do you plan to do ownership stuff?
Stewart: I'd have times on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Custer: I think we'll need a bit more than that. Let's talk about that after the shop meeting.
Stewart: Great.
Custer: Don't forget that part of the deal with the sponsors is that you would be available for meet and greets, commercials, autograph signings and media tours.
Stewart: I've done all that before. Wait, how many media tours?
Custer: I think they want you talking to the camera every opportunity.
Stewart: Hendrick doens't do that.
Custer: But you see Richard Petty, Ganassi, Childress, Hendrick and Evernham regularly talking about their teams on Trackside and the Pre-Race shows.
Stewart: Isn't my radio show enough? It's going to take 10 minutes to get through the list of sponsors already!
Custer: We'll talk later. I'll see you in the shop in a couple minutes. (Sound of footsteps and door shutting).
Secretary: Your Dad, Line 4.
Stewart: Dad?
Nelson Stewart: So are you going to run the double this year?
Stewart: Dad, I haven't really had time to think about it.
Nelson: You're your own boss now. And that Indy 500 trophy would look good on your trophy shelf.
Secretary: Junior, Line 2.
Stewart: Dad, I gotta go. We'll talk later. Junior.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr: Hey Tony. Thought I'd call in and talk a bit about the Nationwide program and warn you about my crazy stepmother. She is shopping hard for a partner. Thought I'd give you a heads-up.
Stewart: A little too late for that. She already cornered me in New York. And I do mean cornered.
Stewart: I'd better go, someone just walked in. Bye. I still can't believe no one has put this together yet.
Chad Knaus: They will at Daytona.
Stewart: Yeah. Well, since I had no crew chief and you got fired from Hendrick after the fiasco during the Chase, it should work for both of us.
Knaus: I agree. Do you want to know what my ideas are? I went back and re-read some of Smokey's stuff and Ray's stuff, and I think there are a few tweeks we can make to the COT that techinically aren't outlawed. Yet.
Stewart: I don't want to know. As the owner/driver, Nascar will think I do, but as long it as doesn't involve lead water containers, I don't care. We just have to get into the top 35 in points.
Knaus: The cars will be very fast.
Stewart: That's what I expect.
Secretary:(Intercom) The meeting is starting now in the shop. Both of you need to get there!
FedEx dropped off brown paper package containing a CD and this transcript.
Rick Hendrick: Tony, I'm delighted that you were able to come and visit the shop. I was a bit surprised you still wanted to come since you won today in the Nationwide Series.
Tony Stewart: Thanks, Rick. I appreciate you meeting late at night with me so we can avoid the silly season gossip.
Hendrick: Naturally, I had hoped that once you heard I dumped Mears, you'd call me.
Stewart: I was really surprised when you did that.
Hendrick: I need results, Tony.
Stewart: I want results too.
[Cellphone beeping]
Hendrick: Don't these guys ever sleep? I just got text messages from Newman, McMurray and Truex. I swear I get at least 10 a piece from them every day. Let me go get the keys for the engine shop from my office. Just take a look around.
Stewart: It's just so weird that no one else is here...
[Sound of footsteps walking away.]
Muffled Voice: Psst.... Rick!
Hendrick: What the!
Jeff Gordon: Will he sign?
Hendrick: What are you doing here?
Gordon: Stewart - will he sign? And how much will it cost us? We need to do it, Rick.
Hendrick: We haven't gotten that far. You shouldn't have come, Jeff. I told him that no one else would know we were talking tonight. I didn't expect you to leave Ingrid & Ella Sophia to come hide out in the shop eavesdropping!
Gordon: Stewart will be fine. If he finds me. We've got to get him to sign. We'd have three former Champions.
Hendrick: We've talked about this, Jeff. I like Tony, but we both know he's a handful.
Gordon: But he's mellowing in his old age. We need to get him married off, then he'll be too busy with the wife and kids to have time to be a grump. I'll get some names from Ingrid & Chandi
Hendrick: We'll see. First I have to convince him to sign with us, and not just as engine provider for Haas.
Gordon: Point out our wins last season and Championships for last 2 years. And we'd bring Zipadelli over.
Hendrick: I know what the deal should be, Jeff. Why don't you go back to the track and sleep?
Gordon: No. If you need me, I'll be hiding over here by the office.
[Footsteps]
Hendrick: Got the keys. Tony, remember that if you decide to buy Haas, we would be glad to supply engines. We supply to several teams, and you get the same stuff we use here.
Stewart: But I don't get all the chasiss info.
Hendrick: Exactly. Do you want to start over with a new crew chief? Or would you prefer to stay with Zippy?
Stewart: What do you mean?
Hendrick: Well, if you leave Gibbs, then I assume Greg stays there. So you'd have to get a new crew chief. Unless you took him to Haas or came here.
Stewart: You'd bring Zippy over?
Hendrick: If you want. And the other guys on the team.
Stewart: Wow. That would be great.
Hendrick: Oops. I don't have the key for the dyno room. I'll be right back.
[Footsteps. Followed by a loud crash]
Voice: Damn!
Stewart: Who is there?
Chad Knaus: It's me.
Jimmie Johnson: And Me.
Stewart: Knaus? Johnson? What are you doing here?
Knaus: We wanted to talk to you about taking this deal.
Johnson: You really need to think this through Smoke.
Knaus: It's perfect for you.
Johnson: And I think we'd work well together
Knaus: Convince Zippy to come with you. He and I would be a formidable team. The rulebook would need to be rewritten. Plus, he has a few passes left - I've got a few ideas, but someone else should really try them out first..
Stewart: Huh, sure. I'm sure Zippy would be excited to spend a few weeks of the season at home with Nan and the kids if there's a problem with your "ideas." Why are you here Johnson, shouldn't you be upset your buddy Mears is out?
Johnson: Casey and I will still be friends. He's no help on the car stuff. You would be.
Knaus: I get chills when I think about the four of you drafting at Daytona.
Stewart: Yeah, but at some point it's everyman for himself.
Johnson: Of course. And you'll need to work on those media relationships.
Stewart: That may be a deal breaker. How did you find out about this anyway?
Johnson: Here comes Rick. Hide!
[Door closing sound]
Hendrick: I got it.
Stewart: If I came to Hendrick, who would I share a shop with?
Hendrick: Junior.
Stewart: Fantastic! That would work. We get along well.
Hendrick: Tony, I'd suggest that you take over the 5 car, and buy Haas with Junior.
Stewart: Sponsorship? Wow, this dyno is impressive.
Hendrick: Only the best here Tony. Chevy funds us well. And we win to keep their name out there. We have several potential sponsors. Do you have any ideas?
Stewart: Bass Pro Shop is ready to bolt DEI.
Hendrick: Junior told me Truex is worried about it. I'm gonna take these keys back to the office.
Voice: Sorry about that. Didn't mean to scare you.
Stewart: Junior! You promised you wouldn't come! I only told you about this meeting to get some advice on negotiating with Rick.
Dale Earnhardt Jr: Yeah, but I wanted to know how it was going. And I thought I could help you out as it went down.
Stewart: But I told Rick no one knew about this meeting!
Junior: Don't worry, he won't catch me. And even if he did, it's my shop too.
Stewart: Did you tell... Nevermind. Did you think of anything else to tell me?
Junior: The winnings' split is typical, Rick actually does a little better than DEI did - both with the driver and the team. It's 46-14-40.
Stewart: What about merchandise?
Junior: Better than standard. And you get say over the design - did you see the new bikinis I have with my number on 'em?
Stewart: Bikinis? I don't know how to design bikinis! Oh well. How will Gordon take it if I move over here?
Junior: I think he'll be fine. It's all money in his pocket too. Whoops!
[Scuffling sounds]
Hendrick: Tony, I think we can work something out that will benefit us both.
Stewart: What about the media?
Hendrick: You're gonna have to talk to them. I expect you to attend all the media sessions you are required to, which I don't think you're doing right now. But that doesn't mean you have to answer all those stupid questions. But we'll need to work something out. The PR guys can work with you to formulate something.
Stewart: Well, I have a few things to think about.
[Door closing and being locked. Sounds of crickets chirping]
Stewart: Isn't that Jeff's SUV?
Hendrick: Yes, but aren't those Knaus's Truck and Junior's Vette? What are they doing here?
An anonymous package arrived late this evening with a single CD. The following is a transcript of that recording.
Mike Helton: First of All, I want to thank you all for attending this voluntary meeting.
{The next three voices are heard simultaneously}
Tony Stewart: Voluntary? You told me...
Dale Earnhardt Jr: I got up early for a voluntary meeting?
Jimmie Johnson: I missed my hair appointment for a voluntary meeting?
Rick Hendrick: It's voluntary if you consider losing 250 points for missing it no big deal.
[Brief Moment of silence.]
Mike Helton: OK so we are all on the same page. Again, we appreciate you taking time to talk with us about the new car.
Robin Pemberton: Oh! Oh! Is it my turn to tell them about the...
Mike Helton: No. Not Yet.
Robin Pemberton: Oh.
Mike Helton: This won't take very long at all. Nascar is rather, well, disappointed in some of the comments we're hearing about the Car of Tomorrow.
Robin Pemberton: Today. Car of Today.
Mike Helton: How about we use "COT?" We've had comments from race winners about how the car is junk.
Jeff Gordon: Sounds like you Shrub.
Mike Helton: And there are people who have ripped us on their radio programs, which is very harmful due to their extreme popularity.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Is everyone looking at me?
Matt Kenseth: They sure aren't looking at me. Number One, I don't have a radio show. Number Two, I'm not the most popular driver.
Carl Edwards: And never will be.
Greg Biffle: Give it a rest Flipper. He still is a Champ. You're not.
Carl Edwards: Do you want to go outside to settle this Biff?
Jamie McMurray: Jack, would you consider firing one of them for fighting?
Robin Pemberton: I told you the seating chart was a bad idea!
Mike Helton: But who knew seating TEAMS together was an issue? Jack, can't you control them?
Jack Roush: I don't have time to deal with petty driver problems when the evil Toyota Empire is winning weekly because Nascar cuts them breaks!
Mike Helton: We'll discuss that privately later Jack. Still others have criticized tire manufacturers.
Tony Stewart: All I have to say is Coca-Cola 600.
Mike Helton: And their competitors didn't back up the Nascar approved tire provider, but side with the complainers.
Kyle Busch: Would that be you Gordy?
Jeff Gordon: All Right, let's take this outside.
Mike Helton: Silence! [Momentary silence] My point is that these complaints do not help us move forward with the CoT program. We are willing to work with you guys to make adjustments. However, with the public whining and complaining that hits the blogs, newspapers and airwaves, it is starting to affect how the fans view the sport. I mean have you read the stuff on fox sports blogs? Those writers are vicious! And then some of you are commenting about how the car will work on a track configuration that it hasn't even been tested on yet! Give it a chance.
Robin Pemberton: Look how Bristol turned out this year And Kansas last year was fine. Except for the multiple rain delays, and strange finish with the winner not able to power his car.
[The following three voices are heard simultaneously]
Clint Bowyer: Are you suggesting...
Greg Biffle: What?!?
Jeff Gordon: Are you kidding me?!?
Mike Helton: That is a good point. The winner is who Nascar says it is. Just remember that Big Bill France disqualified a race winner for an illegal part. Nascar hasn't done that since that first year.
[Brief Silence]
Mike Helton: And we have seized cars for violations of the rulebook. Ironically, Nascar was then accused of giving the engine of that car to Toyota, even though the car owners have now switched to Toyota, presumably turning their Chevy engine program into a Toyota one.
Tony Stewart: I had nothing to do with switching to Toyota.
Kyle Busch: All I can say is at least I'm getting a Formula One test out of it.
Kurt Busch: Suddenly I remember exactly why I left the house as soon as I could.
Mike Helton: My point is that Nascar has discretion to enforce the rules. Junior, do you remember those two penalties you got a couple weeks ago?
Dale Earnhardt Jr: Uh-huh...
Mike Helton: Well, we exercised our discretion and only made you go to the end of the longest line, and did not penalize you with a drive-through penalty as well.
Dale Earnhardt Jr: So your point is?
Mike Helton: Robin, now you can explain the process we're considering for tech inspection for the new car.
Robin Pemberton: The last five individual guys to win championships would go first. The driver, crew chief and owner would report to the tech line at 5 a.m. on Friday.
[Four voices simultaneously]
Jeff Gordon: 1, 2, 3, 4, Damn!
Jimmie Johnson: When would I get my propecia treatment scheduled?!?
Tony Stewart: I only get up at 5 a.m. to fish.
Matt Kenseth: I guess that doesn't include you Carl.
Robin Pemberton: We would then do a Smokey Yunick tech inspection of the car.
Rick Hendrick: You mean, you'd...
Jack Roush: The whole car?!?
Joe Gibbs: Every weekend?
Chip Ganassi: You really want me to sell, don't you?
Robin Pemberton: We figure it will only take about 4 hours per car. The last ones should get done just in time to practice for 10 minutes or so. And then we'd do it all again immediately after the race. Naturally, drivers, crew chiefs and owners could not leave the track until the tech was completed, which again would only take 4 or 5 hours per car.
Mike Helton: Our concern is that your mechanics are tinkering with the car, which leads to the undrivable conditions. Certainly the Nascar R&D department didn't screw up, so it must be what you are doing. So when we hear whining and complaints, we assume you did something to it.
[The sound of Crickets chirping]
Mike Helton: If we didn't hear those things, then maybe...the other option is we could just leave things the same, and reduce the time of the inspections to, say, 10-15 seconds per car.
Jack Roush: My drivers won't say another bad word
Joe Gibbs: Mine neither
Rick Hendrick: No problem.
Chip Ganassi: Juan and Dario love the car.
Mike Helton: I knew we could get this resolved in a sensible manner. Just to show your good faith, I've set up media interviews for all of you drivers immediately after this meeting.
Robin Pemberton: We don't want them to mention the threaten...
Keeping up with Nascar? Let's see how you do with these current events in Nascar.
1) Which event is likely to happen first:
a) Tony Stewart invites a Goodyear Tire Executive over for dinner
b) Humpy Wheeler and Bruton Smith kiss and make up
c) Dale Jr fans finally forgive Kyle Busch for the bump and run at Richmond
d) Free ice-skating in hell.
2) Brian France was at the Indy 500 this weekend. This is because:
a) He wanted to watch the original "Greatest Spectacle" in Motorsports
b) He was getting dancing tips from Helio Castroneves
c) Bruton Smith refused to give him a ticket to the Coca-Cola 600 until he gives Kentucky a Cup race.
3. If Tony Stewart leaves JGR, his likely replacement is:
a) Joey Logano, who just turned 18
b) Greg Biffle, who is frustrated at Roush Fenway
c) Jamie McMurray, who may be cut from Roush Fenway
d) Casey Mears, as Stewart is joining the Terrible Trio at Hendrick.
e) Bobby Labonte, as his sponsor will be taken by Stewart if he lands at RCR
4. Fault for the Nationwide Series Keselowski-Hamlin-Earnhardt scuffle during a caution lap should be implemented as follows:
a) Keselowski - 60%; Hamlin - 30%; Earnhardt 10%
b) Hamlin 60%; Keselowski - 30%; Earnhardt - 10%
c) Keselowski - 50% - Hamlin 50%; Earnhardt - 0%
d) Earnhardt 60% (didn't he hire Keselowski?) ; Hamiln 20%; Keselowski 20%
e) No fault to anyone, in fact give 'em bonuses for making the race more exciting and giving commentators something to comment on.
5. Juan Pablo Montoya was upset this week at Chip Ganassi. Montoya was upset because:
a) Ganassi fired his crew chief, Jimmy Elledge, thereby cutting off Montoya's free supply of AMP. (Elledge is Junior's brother-in-law).
b) Ganassi gave Scott Dixon the car Montoya wanted to drive at Indy this weekend.
c) Due to the Indy 500, Ganassi missed Montoya's weekly poker game, shorting the pot several thousand dollars.
6. Bruton Smith announced that he purchased Kentucky Speedway. The Cup date he wants for the track would likely come from:
a) New Hampshire (one date to Vegas, one date to Kentucky a la Rockingham?)
b) Pocono (isn't 500 miles there enough?)
c) California (can't deliver the crowd for a cookie cutter track)
d) Martinsville (unique but attendance down)
7. Junior keeps running well, but has failed to seal the deal and win a race. His first points win will come:
a) at Dover
b) at Pocono
c) at Michigan
d) at Daytona
e) at Bristol
f) at Talladega
g) next year
8. Haas CNC's two cars were confiscated by Nascar for improper wing brackets. Crew chief Bootie Barker, who says the brackets have been run that way all year, also claims he knows who ratted the team out. That person was:
a) Tony Stewart, attempting to drive down the price of the team
b) JD Gibbs, attempting to make Haas look less palatable to Stewart
c) Chad Knaus, who is checking to see if the Nascar is serious about penalties ramping up for violations, you know, just in case he wants to try something...
d) Michael Waltrip, who has cars trying to get into the top 35 of owner's points.
That is the OLDEST trick in the book! I can’t believe Roush thought they’d get by with it.
I’d bet that is not the only thing that is tricked up on the car either. Nascar will probably throw the book at them.
We’ll figure out what Roush discovered soon. JJ says Gordon wants to know.
Knaus
March 4, 2008 1:24:45 p.m.
Junior:
It’s Penalty Tuesday and no news on Carl’s missing oil tank cover. I can’t believe Nascar is going to let Carl keep the win! Leaving the oil tank cover loose is the oldest trick in the book. I think Smokey came up with it back in the day.
You should be the winner.
E-Sad
March 4, 2008 2:30:26 p.m.
Jeff -
Glad to hear you are just as sore as I was. Bushie told me he was hurting too.
I’m with you on the plan to get softer walls on all tracks on all inside walls.
So will this reignite the Gordon - Kenseth feud? After all, Bristol is around the corner!
Smoke
PS: Can you believe a “non-intentional” missing oil tank cover? At least Knaus is creative!
March 5, 2008 3:52:22 p.m.
Nardelli -
Nascar saw things our way and rescinded the points penalty. But they increased the fine. I appreciate your backing on this. And the offer to help with payment of the fine.
The Indy 500 deal is off. This will keep me in the top 35.
Robby
March 6, 2008 11:55:34 a.m.
Leesa:
I just spoke to the Sprint point man (I can’t remember the name because it is a new guy every week; they cannot keep people hired!). Apparently they are worried about a takeover bid by T-Mobile. The latest rate cut is causing a price war and it‘s cheaper to acquire the company than lower rates.
Thus, it could be the T-Mobile Cup by next year. I hope this doesn’t happen because it sounds like a name for a jock strap!
I’m also considering a big shake-up in the schedule for next year. I’d take the early date from Cali, move Phoenix earlier, and drop a second date for Kansas in the spring. Atlanta would get Labor Day and Cali would get a Chase race. Vegas would get a date from Pocono, but would race it toward the end of the season (maybe in Chase). Let me know what you think.
If Bruton didn’t own Vegas and we did, I’d have the finale there along with the banquet. But No Way I’m moving it from an ISC track!
Brian
March 7, 2008 3:00:00 p.m.
Helton,
Did you see the comments Jack Roush and Lee White at Toyota have been making about the oil tank cover? The Gloves are off! Both are accusing the other of intentional cheating!
Roush even stated that Waltrip’s Daytona car wasn’t the only Toyota with jet fuel in its tank!
Pemberton
March 8, 2008 6:43:16 p.m.
JJ,
Did you see that Roush refused to do the polygraph when pushed? He wouldn't let anyone agree to do it to prove it was an "unintentional" missing oil tank lid.
Like one bolt failed and caused it to fall off without Carl noticing.
Knaus
March 9, 2008 6:10:10 p.m.
Shrub -
Nice work out there today.
I’ll get you next time, assuming the tires are better.
Doesn’t this mean you’re buying lunch this week for the shop?
Smoke
March 9, 2008 6:20:44 p.m.
Smoke,
I know you didn’t like the tires, but can you lay off a little? You’ve given at least four interviews trashing Goodyear, isn’t that enough?
We need to be able to do some testing for them.
JD
March 9, 2008 7:30:22 p.m.
Smoke,
Loved the tire comments. The tires sucked today.
My arms are killing me tonight.
Do you suppose Carl's motor failure was due to a missing oil tank lid?
Junior
March 9, 2008 8:10:45 p.m.
Smoke,
Those tires were terrible today.
Is Irish at Hoosier Tire paying you for the publicity?
Kasey
March 9, 2008 8:11:23 p.m.
Kasey:
Look Fred Astaire, shouldn't you be worried about your dancing?
Smoke
March 9, 2008 8:35:59 p.m.
Smoke,
So I’ve got the soft wall campaign and you’re working on the tire campaign?
Sorry about that wreck in practice. Hope there are no hard feelings.
Clint
February 9, 2008 11:05:18 a.m.
Sis:
What the HELL was going on with the New York Deal? How could two of our former employees get Indicted for racketeering!?! How are the Gambino, Bonnano and Genovese crime families involved?
We have enough problems even though the Kentucky suit was dismissed; no need to draw attention to our little business here.
Call me as soon as you get this!
Bri
February 10, 2008 6:32:04 p.m.
Smoke -
Wanna bet on whether Nascar goes to its the “kinder, gentler” approach on our penalties?
No more sheet metal then?
Bush
February 10, 2008 7:22:56 p.m.
Junior -
No problem, glad to help.
Just return the favor next week!
JJ
February 10, 2008 7:10:09 p.m.
Chandi, DeLana, Nicole, Eva & Katie -
Did you see Ashley Judd in a dress on pit road for Pole Day? I thought Nascar wouldn’t let us do that?
So you know, I’m planning on a mini skirt for the Duels.
Ingrid
February 10, 2008 9:30:00 p.m.
Sis:
I could have guessed it’d be Bush and Stewart who would test the waters on the penalties. Bush had to pull the same stunt he’d done last year, and Stewart replayed the Indy reporter incident in the trailer when Bush shot off his mouth.
Jim & Mike have a few ideas. Need any help cleaning up the grandstands after the next several races? That would make them think twice!
Bri
February 11, 2008 8:10:47 a.m.
Jim -
I’ve heard from several drivers that their wives are a bit upset about Ashley Judd wearing a dress in the pits on Pole Day. Rumor has it the other wives are planning on mini skirts and halter dresses for the Duels and The 500. I think we need to let Dario and Ashley know that she has to wear pants, just like the rest of them.
Otherwise, the upside may be that we’ll pull in more viewers and sponsors if the wives and girlfriends start a fashion war each week.
Mike
February 12, 2008 10:12:45 p.m.
Bushie -
So we’re agreed its on at Texas?
Smoke
February 13, 2008 9:02:21 a.m.
Jeff -
Saw Ingrid’s SI photos - does she have a sister? J
Any truth to the mini skirt rumor on Thursday?
Is it too early to ask for Ella Sophia’s hand in marriage? I may be ready to settle down by the time she turns 18 or so. JK!
Junior
February 15, 2008 3:12:00 p.m.
Rick,
The wind tunnel results are surprising to say the least. We should have tried to keep Cronquist. Toyotas are out horse powering our Chevys (up to 30?!).
Any ideas?
Richard
February 17, 2008 7:22:59 p.m.
Jimmie,
I didn’t catch you at the track, just wanted you to know I’m sorry about the spin today. Not sure I did anything, but I am a rookie after all.
Sam
February 17, 2008 7:38:34 p.m.
Happy
Where do I sign up to join the JP Montoya Non-Fan Club?
Clint
February 17, 2008 8:34:13 p.m.
Bush -
I guess that’s one way to get back at Smoke!
Thanks again.
Ryan
February 17, 2008 8:38:28 p.m.
Rick,
I may keep the hat until after The 500 in Indy.
Any interest in using the suite in May?
Roger
February 17, 2008 8:39:00
Kevin
When you wax Smoke, could some wax get “spilled” on his long hair?
I’m willing to split the difference with you on the rest of the $100,000 to get it done.
Zippy
P.S. My daughter started calling Smoke “Bumble” after the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer character.
