Going into today's race at Infineon many were starting to speculate that Kyle Busch had lost his focus. By doing triple duty many of the weekends this year. Many were starting to speculate that Kyle might of have burned out early.
Well, Kyle decided to put the naysayers to rest. He totally concentrated on his Cup car this weekend.
He qualified 30th for the race. By lap 29 he pitted for fuel and tire. And then the caution came out.
Once the field was reset Kyle was third behind the leader. Greg Biffle spun out. Kyle took advantage of it and went on in a few laps and took the lead from Juan Pablo Montoya. And the kid never looked back.
This kid won his fifth race of the year. And his first road course win.
But did he really put the naysayers to rest? Or did he just prove their point?
Well, I think he did both. I think he proved that he and the 18 team are still hot. But he also proved that is he stays focused on the task at hand, Kyle is unbeatable.
So does the rest of the Cup field want this kid focused just on the Cup car? Probably not. At least when he is not totally focused on his Cup ride, others do get a chance to lead and win races.
But then again, being a JGR fan, I am loving this kid and his run this season. With the way the 20 is finishing right now, it is great to have someone in the JGR camp running so well and dominating like he is.
Go Kyle!!!!
(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images )
Trouble Brewing Between Harvick and Smoke?
Regardless of what TNT's pit reporter Marty Snider wants to make of it, there is no problem between Harvick and Stewart.
Granted this is twice this year Harvick has taken Stewart out of a 2nd place run. But both were just racing incidents.
Today Harvick went into the corner way too hot. Took out Jamie MacMurray and in doing so, MacMurray took out Stewart.
So Marty quit trying to stir things up. Or are you just wanting to be mentioned on Smoke's radio show tomorrow?
Happy Easter to everyone. I hope that everyone has had a wonderful day. Enjoying the company of family and friends.
Hope that everyone got a chance to remember the true reason for this day. And no I don't mean the Easter Bunny.
This is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is because of His love for us that He gave His life for us. And by rising from the dead, He showed that not even death can hold back the powers of the True and Living God.
Okay, now that being said, it is time to give my take on the Waxing of Smoke. Yes it has happened. And unless you live under a rock, and you just came out I am sure that you have heard about the Waxing of Smoke.
It took place last Monday night at Kevin Harvick's home. Present at the waxing was about 50 people, including Kevin Harvick, DeLana Harvick, Matt Yocum, Ford Martin, the beauticians from a salon in Cornelius, N.C. Abbi Goldberg and Lorrie Emory and Gil Martin and wife.
Smoke being Smoke had already asked Ms. Abbi for her phone number even before she pulled the first strip. Guess he wanted to make sure that she agreed before he grossed her out with all that back hair. Hahaha
Now before the waxing ever got started Smoke, Matt Yocum and Kevin Harvick sat around and talked about the Bristol race incident.
As they came back from break they were playing the in car audio between Smoke and Zippy. Smoke had wanted to come in for tires. But Zippy didn't want to give up track position. In the audio Zippy tells Smoke, "I don't know if that was the right decision or not, but it's in your hands now." (HINDSIGHT: Maybe next time Zippy should listen to Smoke and come in for tires.)
Kevin tells Tony that he told his spotter to tell Tony's spotter that he was sorry and did not mean to get into Tony like that.
Well, Tony's spotter, Mark Robinson, didn't relay that message to Tony-he just told Kevin's spotter that if Tony didn't beat Kevin's butt, he would do it himself. Well, Kevin's spotter told Kevin that. So naturally Kevin assumed that Tony was mad and was looking for a fight. So he replied, "If Tony wants to fight me, just come on down here."
Now Tony did not hear any of this. As a matter of fact he was under the assumption that he had not given Kevin enough room. He called Kevin Sunday night and left a message, that he enjoyed racing him and that he was sorry if He did not leave him enough room.
Smoke left Bristol early and went back to North Carolina to get a late day ride in on his horse. He didn't know anything about the conversation between the spotters until the next day when he went to one of the local hangouts and spotted his spotter Mark and he told him what had happen.
Coach Gibbs said, I was doing good until Kevin pounded the big orange! You guys are buddys..I'm, not. I want my check, Kevin. IF it's big and orange with a 2-0 on it...or it's blue and purple with Fed Ex or has M & Ms on it DON"T HIT IT...it's ours!
Tony says that he owes him some Brickyard money on that too.
Joe talked about how bad he felt for Denny and Kyle also. That they were looking into why they were having fuel pick problems.
Tony tells Joe he had two things to say, "We didn't have this happen when you were still in the NFL..not saying that it is your fault or anything..and second..If you find a TV or VCR remote broken in the trailer, I DIDN'T DO IT! I am sworn to brotherhood secrecy and I can't tell you that (whispers into microphone) Zippy did it."
Tony said that Joe is really great at letting him vent and not say anything about it. Tony said that after a race he can go back, yell and cuss, not that Coach Joe wants to hear him yell and cuss, but he will just listen until Tony is all vented out.
Ford jumps in and says that the next race Tony wins he should get his hair cut like his, a Flat Top.
Tony once again got to talking about the race and he said that he also was having fuel pick up problems and that is how Denny got around him. Kevin said, "I'm glad you said that cause I almost thought you let Denny go." Tony said, 'ARE YOU KIDDING?" Kevin, said, "Well, I thought I knew better than that."
Tony made the comment that he was going on vacation and Kevin wanted to know where he was going to. Tony said, "Yea, we're going to Alaska to run the Idirod Dog Race." Kevin said, "That's already over." Tony said, "well, we won't be finishing very well in that."
They ask the ladies how much wax it will take to do Tony's back and they said about a gallon. They had told Tony to take some Ibuprofen or some type of pain killers and he had been taking them since morning. Along with all the beer he could handle.
J.D. Gibbs called in and wanted to know what else they can wax for $15,000? Matt and Kevin say that they can wax Smoke's legs. Smoke says NO NO NO. Then JD said maybe they could do Tony's neck. Tony reminds JD, "Remember JD, I drive something every week that you pay for and with the flick of the wheel, I can destroy it." They all laugh. But JD still wants Tony's neck waxed.
JD says that he will throw in another $50 for them to pull a strip off of Kevin. Tony chimes in that he is not sharing the table with Kevin.
Ford Martin reminds them that he gets to pull a strip for Jimmie Johnson's $10,000 donation.
Ford Martin introduces Abbi and Lorry and ask them on a scale of 1 - 10 how painful it was going to be? And they replied 11. The girls are getting ice, just in case of bleeding. Matt wants to know if someone had a phone so they could call 911 if the needed. Kevin said, "Not until they are done." Tony just nervously laughed.
Tony is getting ready to get on the table. The ladies hand him a bikini bottom to put on. He declines. Stays in his trunks. (Thank goodness somethings are best left undiscovered.)
Tony is on the table now. Matt paints the picture: Smoke had his shirt off and had worn a pair of knee length shorts. Kevin chimes in that Matt wasn't painting the whole picture. He says that Tony had on a pair of white ankle socks and Kevin was laughing hard. Tony said, "I am what I am.'' He took his socks off and told Kevin he could smell them for the next hour. (A little payback, Smoke?)
Tony: I asked her how hot, she said about boiling. (This is gonna hurt)
Tony is told to lie very still as they pour the first strip of wax. Tony asks, "As opposed to what...running?''
Kevin asked how long the wax has to set and the girls say just a few seconds. The longer it sets the more it hurts.
Matt chimes in, "OK, we'll go to commercial break and pull the first strip off when we come back." Tony yells, "NO NO commercial."
The first strip comes off. Tony: OMMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Tony sprung to his knees and yelled. Eveyone in the background OOOHHHHHHHH.
Girls: He is bleeding already.
Ford: Should I hold up a mirror so you can see the blood?
Tony: NO.....
Girls: Number two.
Tony: I have a feeling I will have a feeling. Ohhhhhhhhh, man.
Matt: Looks like someone has kidney stones....
Tony says that You can kick him in the groin and he will not cry tonight. and ..he'd rather be kicked in the groin right now."
The girls are telling Smoke that the side hurts more. Tony replies that good news...they have the heavy artillery wax coming out now. It hurts going on....it's pulling.
The strip comes off. Tony has face in his hands now.
The girls say that maybe they should had clipped the hair a bit. (Where did they get these two? Would that not be the first thing you would do before putting hot wax on a hairy back?)
Matt is talking about seeing splotches on Smoke's back. Smoke says he can handle it. It ain't that bad. Kevin says that there are water works in those eyes. Ford: You are crying.
The next strip is for JD's $15,000 off the neck of Tony. Tony yells and Kevin said that brought him to his knees on that one. Tony said, "JD, I'll win a race and wreck the car on the cool down lap for that one." "I hope everyone of those kids at camp enjoys this."
Matt says the splotches are really showing up now all over his back. They are as red as a Budweiser can. Even Smoke's ears are red.
Kevin is almost speechless. He doesn't know what to say. Commercial break and more ice for Smoke's back.
Tony says that he knew this was going to be the most popular show as they were pulling more off. Because whether you like him or not, you get see him in great pain. They showed Tony some of the strips they had pulled off and Tony said it was the most disgusting thing he had ever seen.
Matt says that the reaction response is always the same and the numbness should set in. Kevin chimes in that the numbness doesn't set in, it only gets worse the lower down his back they get. Kevin says they should save the strips and put themon e-bay.
More ice goes on the bumps on his back. To try and help get the swelling to go down. They also use the ice to help cool his face and ears. Tony wants the air conditioner on. And he doesn't know how Kevin and everyone else could stand around with sweatshirts on.
Kevin wants to know if they could get Tony anything...Tylenol, more ice, then he said. "You're taking this like a man."
Kevin asks "Can I get you anything, Buddy?''
Kyle Petty calls on a private phone and talked with Tony. He then called back on a different line and put the call on the air. Kevin said that they have a $100,000 check ready for the camp. Kyle wants to know if there is any blood on it? Tony said there is probably some bloodlets on it. Kevin said there was hair on it and they could even put some skin on it.
Delana is looking at his back and Tony told her to go ahead and pull one off. Because he had wrecked many of her Busch cars. Delana said that doesn't matter. They could fix a race car but these bumps are not going way for a long time. She finally went ahead and pulled a strip and it started bleeding. Kevin said, "Uh oh, the rubber gloves are coming out now as they are blotting the blood." Kevin wants to know if there will be scabs everywhere and the girls say Yes. Kevin told Tony he will not be able to take his shirt off on vacation.
They have now brought in another trash can and they are finally clipping some hair off now with clippers.
Kevin tries to change the subject. But Matt gets them back to talking about the waxing. One of the girls says "This is going to leave a mark" and they all start laughing.
Ford wants to know if this was worse than hitting the wall at Vegas? Tony says this is worse than Vegas and Charlotte all rolled into one. Just then the girls ripped some hair off the neck unexpectedly and Tony yelled and Kevin said you really know it's bad when your feet come off the table.
Ford keeps saying that Tony has tears in his eyes. Tony is arguing that it was just sweat. Ford said that Tony was just holding it in until he gets home. Then he was going to cry.
Gil Martin took his turn and said, "Zippy, for everytime you wanted to pull the hair off of him, even though you wanted to do it closer to the public area, this pull is for you."
They ask Tony for any final thoughts and Tony said that it was really worth it even though it doesn't seem like it right now. Cause those kids don't have a chance at a normal life and he commended Kyle and Ptty for building that camp in memory of Adam.
Just as a sidebar: Tony was at a signing at Mark Martin's Ford dealership in Batesville, Arkansas on Friday. He has finally had his hair cut.
Anyone who says that road course races do not belong in NASCAR need to go and find a tape of Sunday's race and watch it.
The race at Watkins Glen was probably the most exciting race, well at least one of the top five, of this season.
The two best NASCAR road racers battled back and forth for the first 45 laps of the race. That was until Tony Stewart spun himself out while leading the race. Which caused him to land 20th in the running order.
But the 20 team and its driver did not throw up their hands and quit. Through great pitstops and a driver who drives like his pants are on fire. They were able to regain the track position that they needed to put them in contention for the win.
As the laps dwindled down you could tell that Stewart was a man on a mission. As he passed car after car until he was third, you just knew that if he could get to Gordon, this was going to be a great race to the checkered flag.
As Smoke chased down his teammate Denny Hamlin for second, going through the S's these two teammates ran off into the grass. Opening the door for Gordon to get a slight lead and Carl Edwards to close up on them.
As the teammates came through the grass areas, Stewart and Hamlin battled side by side. But then a caution came out.
Once the green flag was back out, Stewart took the race to his teammate. He finally passed Hamlin for second and Stewart set sail for Gordon.
As Stewart chased Gordon down, one can only wonder could he catch him? Gordon was now showing his hand. Gordon had saved his car and he was now using it all.
But then the unexpected happen. On lap 89, right in front of Stewart going into turn 1, almost the exact same spot that Stewart had spun earlier, Jeff Gordon spun out.
I am sure the look not only on Gordon's face, when he did it, but Stewart's had to be one of pure shock. There are two things that are for certain about Jeff Gordon, he is a great road racer and he doesn't spin out on road courses, especially when he is leading.
So when he spun out and Stewart went sailing by him, I am sure that Gordon was wondering what had happened. I know I sure was.
I had already come to the conclusion with three laps left that Stewart was going to finish second and Gordon was going to win his 5th race of the year.
Guess that is why it is said, "that it isn't over until the flag waves".
To Bump or Not to Bump
Denny Hamlin pondering what if, said over his team radio that he thought about laying the bumper to one Jeff Gordon. But because Jeff Gordon did not race him like that in other races, Denny didn't want to do that to Gordon.
It is a good thing that Mr. Hamlin did not lay the bumper to Gordon and then say this on his team radio. NASCAR would have certainly brought him down for a rough driving penalty.
Was it a Block or Just a Stupid Move
Photo by AP Photo/David Duprey
Now while Hamlin never laid a bumper to Gordon, one Martin Truex, Jr. did lay the bumper to one Juan Pablo Montoya.
As Truex dived low to make a run on Montoya. Montoya drove low in front of Truex. Blocking Truex from making the pass. But what happened next made the race, seem like the good ole days of Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison.
As Montoya blocked Truex, Truex didn't like it. He bumped Montoya, causing Montoya to do spinning. Collecting Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton. Both Richard Childress drivers.
As the cars came to a rest. Harvick gets out of his car and approaches Montoya's car. As Montoya is trying to tell Harvick that it he had been hit from behind. Harvick was hearing him.
As Harvick tries to keep his hands off of Montoya, Montoya grabs the face of his helmet, and the tussel is on. Both guys exchange a few shoves and pulling away of each other's hands. NASCAR officials finally jump in to break up the shoving match. Even level headed Jeff Burton got involved to breakup the two drivers.
Guess Mr. Montoya and Mr. Harvick will not be having dinner together anytime soon.
But oh, boy, wasn't it great to see two drivers toe to toe and taking nothing from the other one.
Oh, how I long for the good ole days.
Tomorrow is Kyle's Day
Well it seems that the worst kept secret at Joe Gibbs Racing will be formally announced tomorrow. J.D. Gibbs has scheduled a press conference on Tuesday at Joe Gibbs Racing at 11 a.m.
It is at this time that, it is expected that J.D. will announce that Joe Gibbs Racing has hired Kyle Busch to replace J.J. Yeley in the 18 Interstate Batteries Car.
"We worked really hard, but we were never close," Earnhardt said. "I am a little sad, but I am trying to remind myself to be excited about what's ahead."
As An Era Ends Today,
A New Era Begins
Well all that is left to decide now is whom Dale Jr. will race for next year.
The end of era for the Earnhardt family came to a close today. Dale Earnhardt Jr. let it be known today that he was going to be leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season. This is the company in which Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been employed since the day he stepped into NASCAR racing. Whether it was Busch or Cup.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. started DEI so that he could leave his children a legacy that they some day would run. He brought his son Dale Jr. into the company to be its featured driver. He put Michael Waltrip in a second car, as a teammate to his son. Dale Sr. had a vision for his company that many knew about. But due to a tragedy in 2001 that took Dale Sr.'s life Dale Sr. never got to see that vision to full fillment.
Things were going along very well for DEI for several years after Sr. died. But somewhere around 2004 things seemed to change. It almost seemed that DEI was falling behind in the technology department.
As teams like Hendricks, Gibbs, Roush and Childress all made strides, DEI just seemed to have leveled off. The cars were not as competitive as they had been in the past. This was very evident on the restrictor plate tracks. This was the one track in which DEI dominated in 2001-2003. But in 2004, DEI was no longer the dominate car to beat at the restrictor plate tracks. That now fell on teams like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
So when it came time for contract talks between Dale Jr. and DEI, there were major issues that needed to be addressed. And evidently the two parties could not come to agreement on how to best fix those issues.
Dale Jr. wanted ownership of DEI. Because he felt that he could take DEI to the next level of competition.
Teresa Earnhardt evidently felt that she is the best person to take DEI to the next level.
Now time will tell if DEI will ever become one of the top tier teams again. My gut feeling is that unless DEI makes some major changes, they will never be a top tier team. Regardless of who they might hire as a driver.
Dale Jr. knows from his talks with other owners and drivers that there are things that DEI is lacking. And that is what he wanted to put into place for DEI. But because of the failed contract talks with DEI, Jr.'s vision for DEI will have to wait. I just hope that there is a company in place that Jr. and Kelly will be able to oversee in the future.
Because there is coming a day in which Teresa will step away from DEI. And that day may be sooner than later. But for now Teresa is still the head of DEI. Let's just hope that she does make the hard decisions that needs to be made to make DEI the best it can be.
As to where Dale Jr. will end up. Well, my gut feeling is either it will be Gibbs or Childress. With Childress being the most likely. The only way I can see him going to Hendricks is if either Kyle Busch or Casey Mears are on their way out. And since Kyle is performing as well as his teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, I can't see him leaving.
But the performance for Casey has not been what they had wanted. And since Casey is only into his first year with Hendricks, it probably would be a stretch for him to leave just yet.
Now Childress and Gibbs each have room for expansion to a fourth car. There is even speculation that J.J. Yeley might be out of the 18 car by the end of the season if things do not pick up. So there is more room for Dale Jr. at Gibbs. But the one problem with that is that Gibbs already has a big name star in Tony Stewart and a rising star in Denny Hamlin. Would Jr. really fit into Gibbs? Maybe, but not likely.
Dale Jr. seems more like the type of driver that Richard Childress likes to hire. He is quiet. Doesn't really call attention to himself personally. Like Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer. And on occasion Kevin Harvick.
So where will he wind up? It is anyone's guess, but if I were a gambling person, I would put money on Childress Racing.
The Gibbs cars of Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin have prove all year that they are contenders for the win. But for one reason or another they keep coming up short.
Phoenix was the lastest stop for the NASCAR Cup drivers. A race in which we saw Jeff Gordon get win no. 76 that tied him with Dale Earnhardt for wins.
At the beginning of the race it looked like Denny Hamlin was going to walk away with this race. He had a car that would pull out 3-4 seconds ahead of the field. Hamlin was really stinking up the field. At least that was until he got caught speeding on pit road. This forced him to go to the longest line. And his position was 31st. But Hamlin with the help of his crew came back to finish 3rd. Considering where he once was on the track, 3rd place you would think would make him happy. But not so.
While Hamlin was coming through the field, his teammate Stewart forced his way to the front and he lead three times for 132 laps. On lap 285 Stewart was leading when the caution came out. But to show how their luck has went this year. Jeff Gordon was on pit road when the caution came out. He finished his pit stop and came out on the tale end of the lead lap. When Stewart and the rest of the field made their pit stops, because of where Gordon was pitted on pit road, Gordon was shown as the race leader.
This put Stewart second. Stewart battled Gordon for the lead, even going three wide to take the lead. But Stewart didn't pull away from Gordon and this gave Gordon the chance to come back on Stewart and retake the lead. For whatever reason, Stewart never was able to catch Gordon. Gordon went on to give Hendricks their fifth win of the season and their third win in the COT. And Smoke would have to settle for second.
But you could tell that neither Stewart nor Hamlin was happy with their finishing spots. Some would say, they should be happy to finish in the top 5. The day a race car drivers becomes happy with finishing 2nd and 3rd that is the day they need to step out of the car. These drivers are not paid millions of dollars to be happy finishing anything but 1st.
The Gibbs teammates have certainly been the class of the field when it comes to the COT. But because of mechanical problems, untimely cautions or just bad luck, they have not had the wins that they probably should have. In my opinion, instead of Hendricks leading the wins column, Gibbs should be there. But it is not my opinion that counts. It is the actual results that counts. And the results says that Hendricks has the COT figured out. And that Gibbs needs more work.
So when will the Gibbs twosome finally break into victory lane? Hopefully soon. I don't know about anyone else, but I am getting tired of seeing Hendricks cars in Victory Lane. It is time for someone else to win in the COT or in the COY. Shoot I just think it is time that Smoke and Denny take that frustration and turn it into wins, not 2nd and 3rd place finishes.
Plus I am tired of seeing Denny and Tony so unhappy. I like to see the Gibbs twosome smiling from ear to ear. Having fun in their cars and pulling into Victory Lane. I like to see Gibbs on top of all the stats sheets, from laps lead to the points standings.
So even though I am a True Orange Tony Stewart fan, I am also a true Gibbs fan. And I pull for all of the Gibbs drivers.
Oh and let's not forget J.J. Yeley, this guy can't buy a break. If I believed in jinxs I would think that the 18 Interstate Batteries car is just that jinxed. It seems that no matter who drives that car, they get caught up in somebody else's wreck after having a good run all race long. Provided that they get through the first couple laps of race.
So hopefully real soon, all three Gibbs cars can turn their season around and find themselves in Victory Lane where Joe Gibbs Racing belongs.
TALLADEGA
This is for Southern Cindi, hey, I hope that you can bring our man Smoke some much needed good luck at Talladega next Sunday. This whole organization needs for Smoke to pull into Victory Lane next week. Hopefully, you will be the good luck charm that he needs.
Have fun Ms. Cindi. I want to hear all about your adventure when you get back.
With all that the Cup drivers are having to deal with each race weekend, isn't it great to see that two friends can have so much fun with each other?
Poking fun at the other's imperfections. Chubby waistline. Balding head.
Doctoring photos to make the other one look silly for the fans.
What am I talking about?
Tony "Smoke" Stewart and Kevin "Happy" Harvick.
Tony Stewart threw out a challenge on his weekly Sirius radio show. On the show Tuesday night, Stewart threw out the challenge to anyone who would donate $100,000 to Victory Junction Camp, he would allow them to wax, yes I said WAX, his back and chest from the waist up.
Talking about pain. Smoke is in for alot of pain with this one. I want even wax my legs. Can you imagine pouring hot wax on your back and chest? Ouch.
Don't know how many have ever seen Stewart without his shirt on. But this guy is pretty hairy on the chest and back. Think Smoke might better put up a supply of Goody's Cool Orange powders. He might need them in the future.
On Friday, one of Smoke's Busch car owners took up the challenge. Kevin Harvick during a qualifying interview told Smoke, that he and his fans were going to take up Smoke's challenge and they were going to take donations for Victory Junction. And when they reached the $100,000 mark, they want Smoke to give up his chest hair and back hair for waxing.
Here is the interview between Kevin Harvick, 29 RCR Shell Cheverlot Impala SS, and Matt Yocum, Speed reporter.
Harvick: My biggest concern, I have a bigger concern?
Matt: "What is your biggest concern?"
Harvick: "My biggest concern is this guy (holding up a computer generated picture of Smoke in a pumpkin suit) I haven't seen him too day and very long.
Matt: That's a big pumpkin.
Harvick: Yeah, well, he made a Ronald McDonald suit. So we made this Bigggg pumpkin suit and he looks good in it. The Great Pumpkin. So, he also made, the other night, made a remark on the air, on his radio show. He said, um huh, If anybody would donate $100,000 to the Victory Junction Gang, that we could wax him, his front and back, from the waste up, So we are going to take up on that bet, Me and My Fans. Donate some money to Victory Junction, and we are going to wax Smoke from the waist up. We are going to start right in the middle. It should be fun.
Matt: How can fans find out more about this?
Harvick: They can go to my website "KevinHarvick.com" We are going to raise some money and wax Smoke.
Matt: Let's see the Pumpkin once again.
Harvick: That's a big Pumpkin boy. ------------- And here is Tony Stewart's, 20 JGR The Home Depot Chevrolet Impala SS, Response:
Matt: And we have caught up with Tony Stewart. I don't know if you happen to be watching Qualifying but...your buddy threw down a challenge. Something about waxing Sasquatch or something, happen to see that?
Tony: I've seen the commercials that are messing with Sasquatch. But uh, yeah we did make that bet on our show Tony Stewart Live. Uh, so if it raises $100,000 for charity, I'm all for it. Umm, this is a Goody's Cool Orange weekend anyway, I am going to take plenty of that, because I am sure that it is going to be painful as it is. But um...I have a better deal, I'll, make him a challenge too so, um.
Matt: Well what will that be?
Tony: Well if we are willing to wax our back and chest for charity, we'll donate a $100,000 to the same cause if we can shave his head. And not with clippers, razor shave his head. So um, it really shouldn't be a really big deal anyway, he is losing it. It is falling off the backside anyways. I think that is a pretty fair deal.
Matt: The gauntlet has been laid down here on Pit Road. That could be $200,000 going for the charity these guys have talked about is Victory Junction.
Well, as of this writing Harvick has not accepted the Challenge by Smoke to razor shave his head for $100,000 donation to Victory Junction.
Darrell Waltrip wants these two to come on Speed and do their little challenge to each other. Guess we will have to wait and see if Harvick and his fans can collect the $100,000. And I am sure that if Smoke asks his fans they would help him raise the $100,000 to see Harvick's head razor shaved. I would love to see that challenge are as they called it a Bet.
So will Harvick accept the challenge? Will Smoke get waxed? Will Harvick get razored?
Tune back in later it should be interesting to see how this challenge plays out.
I will try and do justice to the rest of the 2006 season. As the first review has shown the first six months of Cup racing was very active. Some of the activities were on the track, some where not.
But I am not sure that anything set off a firestorm like the one that Tony Stewart set off at Pocono in July when he took out Clint Bowyer and innocent bystander Carl Edwards. (Well except the wreck Tony caused with Matt Kenseth at Daytona in February.)
Everyone had their feelings about this one. And I am still not sure that anything was every completely settled between these three men. If these three find themselves in a similar situation in 2007, wonder if anyone will give a little more or if it will be all taking.
SMOKE MISSES THE CHASE THEN GOES ON A TEAR
The unbelievable happened at the fall race in Richmond. Tony Stewart missed the chase by a mear 16 points. Just when the media was starting to say that Tony was going to run and hide, he decides to show why he is the Champion that he is.
Smoke went on to win 3 of the 10 Chase races. Two at tracks in which he has never won at. Smoke might not have been in the chase, but Smoke sure stole the limelight from the Chasers.
2007 should be a fantastic year for Tony Stewart. Don't be surprised if he doesn't walk away with a 3rd championship this year.
DENNY VS. POCONO Denny Hamlin had never seen Pocono (except on a video game) when he first set foot there in June. But to watch this young man on this track, one had to be impressed with his skills as well as his car control and his team's desire to win. This desire was proven by the way they fixed his car after he went spinning through the grass.
It seems that J.D. Gibbs has put together a championship team. Just as his father, Joe, did with both former driver Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart's teams. I see only good things for this young man and his FedEx Team in 2007.
CARL EDWARDS, BAD BOY IN TRAINING? Carl Edwards in 2006 did not have a banner year. He went through the sophmore slump big time. But when you go after the fan favorite, you become NASCAR's Bad Boy in Training.
Just to refresh your memory, Dale Jr. spun Carl Edwards out in the Busch race at Michigan to take the lead. And Edwards retaliated by running into Earnhardt on the ensuing caution lap, which could have been very costly to Jr. For Jr. had his left hand outside of his window netting trying to get some air. When Edwards hit him. Fortunately, Jr.'s window was higher than Carl's front end.
Then Edwards shows how unsportsmanlike he is. He goes into Victory Lane where Jr. is celebrating and confronts Jr. Even Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt never went into victory lane to confront a driver after a race. That is just not done Carl.
So Carl becomes NASCAR's newest Bad Boy in 2006.
MAYFIELD VS. EVERNHAM Not going to take up too much time with this one. This one has been rehashed enough for one year. But the most interesting thing that came out of this to me was that these two were suppose to be really good friends. But yet, they allowed a friendship to be destroyed over what, a young girl? One felt his friend was not paying enough attention to his Cup teams, while the other one felt he was paying enough attention to everything.
But somewhere, along the way, these two forgot one important lesson, Never let a girlfriend get in the way of a friendship. Girlfriends come and go, but friends are forever.
JEFF BURTON ENDS WINLESS STREAK When the last race of September rolled around, Jeff Burton was quietly putting himself in position to end a streak, that had been around since 2001. A winless streak.
Burton finally found himself back in Victory Lane. It was a win that was much welcomed not only by Burton, but by the Cingular team and Richard Childress as well.
CHILDRESS RACING HITS ITS STRIDE Richard Childress Racing was having a banner year in Cup and Busch racing. All three of his drivers were performing very well in both series. Harvick and Burton got wins in the Cup series and all three drivers got wins in the Busch series.
Childress Racing is proving that they have finally pulled themselves up from the disaster that befell them in 2001. They have finally come full circle. They are winning again and they are setting the world on fire. 2007 should be another banner year for Richard Childress Racing.
MARK MARTIN LEAVES ROUSH RACING
This is probably the most shocking news of the 2006 season. Who would have ever thought that Mark Martin would not end his career with Roush Racing.
But Mark shocked the whole racing world with the news that he would return in 2007 to run a limited Cup schedule with MB2 Racing. He will also be running a limited truck schedule for the Woods Brothers.
Mark might be slowing down, but he is still not quiet finished with Cup racing just yet.
FAREWELL TO TEXAS TERRY Terry Labonte raced his last Cup race in Texas on November 5, 2006. The Iceman finally decided to step away from Cup racing for good. Terry will be greatly missed in Cup racing, not only by his fans, but the by the 42 other drivers he raced against.
Terry Labonte was a hard racer, but he was a clean racer. People knew that Terry would not take any #### off anyone, but he also didn't give it. But if you had the nerve to cause him to have a bad day, you had better be sure to come and make amends before the next race. Because the Iceman took names and he didn't mind putting the bumper to anyone he needed to. He wouldn't wreck you, but he would let y ou know he was there and he had your number. Even the legendary Dale Earnhardt knew this.
THE 48 TEAM FINALLY BECOMES CHAMPIONS Well I started this review of the 2006 season with the 48 team and now I am going to end it with the 48 team.
With all the controversy that surrounded this team at the beginning of the year, I would have never thought that they would be champions at the end of the year. But here we are.
They gathered up the pieces of their team in Daytona. Went on to win the Daytona 500, the All-Star Race and The Allstate 400, along with wins at Talladega, Las Vegas and Martinsville.
So the 48 team was the best of the best in 2006. Congratulations for the final time to the 48 team for their championship.
So who will be the best of the best in 2007, well, come February 18, 2007 we will begin to solve that mystery. But unfortunately it will take 36 weeks before we find the answer to that mystery.
So until then rest, your minds. Rest your remote controls. Because Daytona will be here before you can say..."Gentlemen, Start Your Engines".
Finally, Jeff Burton will not have to answer the question "When will you break back into victory lane?" For today at Dover, DE he won his first race since Phoenix in 2001, a 175 winless streak.
All season Burton and his teammates have been showing that RCR is back. Harvick has won four times this year giving RCR its only wins of the season. Now Burton can add his name to that list.
Burton raced Matt Kenseth hard to get the lead, but clean. Burton never touched the car of Kenseth. But he certainly did work his former teammate over the old fashion way. He earned it.
But the goodness for Burton did not end there. Not only did he win the race, but he also took the points lead for the first time since 1999.
Burton currently sits 6 points ahead of Jeff Gordon and 18 points ahead of Matt Kenseth and rookie Denny Hamlin.
So as the points race for the championship tightens the Cup drivers head out to Kansas City for the third race in the Chase for the Championship.
BAD DAY
Many chasers had a really rough day. Kasey Kahne was caught up in Tony Stewart's spin on lap 11. This has pretty much ended Kahne's chance at the Championship. Kahne currently sits 182 points out of first with 8 races to go.
Kevin Harvick who came into the race as the points leader now sits 4th 54 points out of first. Harvick suffered an engine failure.
Jimmie Johnson also had a bad day. He had a pit road tire issue that dropped him to the back of the field. Though he did manage to finish 13th 1 lap down. Johnson is currently 8th in the points 136 points behind Burton.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a tire issue, but fortunately he caught it early enough that he did not wreck. But unfortunately for him and his team the caution came out before all the field could make green flag pit stops and this caused him a lap. In which he was never to regain. He finished 21st 3 laps down. Earnhardt is currently 7th 102 points behind Burton.
Kyle Busch probably suffered the worse. He is currently 10th in points 224 points out of first. It seems his chance at a Championship is certainly over. Kyle also suffered engine failure. He finished 40th at the Monster Mile.
QUIETLY RACING
There were two chase drivers who were really quite today: Denny Hamlin and Mark Martin. Denny finished 9th in the race and is currently tied for third place 18 points behind Jeff Burton.
Mark Martin finished 14th 1 lap down and is currently 6th in the points 75 behind Burton.
SMOKE SPINS
Unfortunately for the 2 time Champ he and his team just cannot get off of this roller coaster called the 2006 season. Once again the champ and his team are forced to finish that is not befitting the champ. Stewart spun in turn 4 on lap 11 and hitting the wall.
Smoke and the team went to the garage and fixed the car and they finished 33rd. Coming into this weekend Smoke and the team had high hopes of finally getting their season back on track. But like the rest of their season, it was not meant to be.
So now it is on to Kansas City. Hopefully the 20 team will be able to find some little magic and pull off a win there.
CHASE SPOILERS
Going into the Chase many people thought that Tony Stewart might actually be a spoiler. But that has not been the case.
The only spoilers of the Chase so far has come from one organization: Richard Childress Racing. Until this year, Childress has not has a chase contender. This year they have two: Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton and they both have each won one Chase race each.
So who will be the spoilers? My guess is right now it will be someone from the Childress organization, not Tony Stewart.
Okay, so Richmond has not started out so great for the current Cup Champ. He wrecks his primary car five minutes into practice on Friday and has to go to a backup car. Then he qualifies 40th.
By all tense and purpose Stewart and The Home Depot team have a mighty big hole to climb out of. Or do they?
Stewart has only been forced to a backup car four others times in his Cup career: twice at Chicagoland (both wrecks), once at Texas (car was confiscated by NASCAR) and last year at Bristol. In all those incidents Stewart and the Home Depot team rallied around each other and pulled off top 10 finishes in a backup car.
Tonight during the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 our current Championship team will have to pull another rabbit out of their hat if they plan on being apart of this year's Chase. And you just know that Stewart and company will be doing all they can to be sure that at the end of that 400 miles, they are standing there apart of the Chase.
Now Chassis 103 is a proven car. It finished 7th here at Richmond last year (Stewart's magic number tonight) and it won the spring race at Martinsville. It is a tried and tested winner.
But during qualifying yesterday Stewart's car was way too tight. So the 20 team will be hoping for an early caution (that is not them) so that they can get in there and make some major changes to this race car. To help Stewart on his way to a third straight placement in the Chase.
So who will be in the Chase at the end of the night? Only two are for certain right now: Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth. Kevin Harvick will be in once he starts his engine tonight. And the rest will have to wait until the end of the race to find out where they placed in the chase. But I certainly think that barring a major problem, Stewart and the 20 team will be there at the end.
The big deal is not what Dale Jr. did, that was simply a racing deal. I know, I know Carl Edwards and his fans do not see it that way. And I know if it was Tony Stewart who was punted I would not feel so generous to Dale Jr. But it was a racing deal. Carl got loose and Jr. just ran into the back of him. Could Jr. have let off, maybe. But it was the last lap of the race and they both were going for the win.
Many drivers have been in the same situation through the years of NASCAR. Richard Petty and David Pearson had several of these during their years racing against each other.
The big deal came with what Carl did before the end of the race. Carl came to pit road and parked in Jr.'s pits. Well when Jr. did not come off the track so Carl could have a meeting with him, Carl decided to cut across pitroad and run into the side of Jr.'s car.
This could have been very dangerous to Dale Jr. who at the time of the hit had his hand out of the window. When Carl hit Jr.'s car, it shocked Jr. It shocked him so bad that when he pulled his hand back into the window, Jr. jumped in his seat.
I can understand his anger, but what he did could have caused a man his hand. Carl talks about Tony Stewart being a "####", what in the world do you think he is? He is the one acting like a "####", running into the back of people's cars on pit road (Stewart at Pocono) and running into the side of people's cars on the track (Dale Jr. at Michigan).
Then Carl went to Victory Lane to confront Jr. This is a big no no, Carl. You never go into another driver's victory celebration unless it is to congratulate him. Didn't the "Cat In the Hat" Jack Roush tell you that?
Maybe it is time he gets some Anger Management help. I know that his season has not gone the way he wanted it too, but man he is going to hurt someone, if he doesn't calm down.
His days of being Mr. Goody 2 Shoes is over. He is acting more and more like Eddie Haskell (from "Leave it to Beaver"). Carl needs to sit down and talk to some of his fellow competitors who have received the wrath of NASCAR.
Here is a list for him: Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Jimmy Spencer, Robbie Gordon, just to name a few. I am sure these fellows would be more than glad to share their experience with him.
I would say sit him down and it would help him. It certainly did help Kevin Harvick. But I am not sure that would help Carl right now. He is not thinking with a clear head right now. But hopefully, before he goes to Bristol he will clear his head and be ready to race like the talented driver he is.
I am sure NASCAR will have alot to say about this come Wednesday. They might help Mr. Edwards clear his head.
Coming into today's race there were three drivers who we knew would be a threat for the win: Tony Stewart, Robbie Gordon and Jeff Gordon.
We also knew that the ringers would be trying to do something that has not been done since Riverside, California where a ringer won a Cup race. (Riverside International Speedway 1/13/1973 Mark Donohue in a Matador.)
We also knew that there were some new real threats to the dominance that Stewart and the Gordons had shown over the last few years. Kurt Busch showed early he had the car to beat. But unfortunately for him, he and his team beat themselves by pitting while the pits were closed.
But who in their right mind would have thought that once Busch was out, that Stewart would not have won this race. Once Kurt took himself out, I thought, okay Smoke, you do what you do best, and win 3 in a row. That in itself should have been a clue that Smoke was not going to win today.
And then there was another clue that he was not going to win today, back in 2003 after Smoke won the championship, he did not win at either road courses. But the two previous years he won at least one race on a road course 2001 Sonoma and 2002 Watkins Glen.
So here we sit in 2006 the year after he won the championship and he did not win a single road course. But he was a contender for both. Watkins Glen was a much better finish (2nd) than Infineon (28th) this year. Engine problems caused the problem at Infineon.
Now we come to Kevin Harvick. I know that Harvick is a pretty good road racer in his own right. Out of 12 starts on road courses, Kevin had 2 top 5s and 4 top 10s. But seriously who really thought that he had a real chance at winning today? I certainly didn't.
When Tony passed Harvick on lap 82 with a power move that surprised Harvick. I just knew that Tony had this race in the bag. But lap 84 the 10th caution came out and the field was regrouped once again. This gave Harvick the opportunity to close up on Stewart's backend. Harvick on lap 88 pulled a power move of his own and passed Stewart and off he went.
Now when Harvick pulled that power move on Stewart I almost fell off of my chair. Did I just see what I think I saw? Did Stewart just get passed on a road course, in which he was leading with 2 to go? The answer was yes. And it wasn't Robbie Gordon or Jeff Gordon doing it either. It was Kevin Harvick.
Kevin Harvick the guy who had only won 6 Cup races in his 6 years in Cup. And none of them were road course wins.
I guess most of the field has finally caught Stewart, R. Gordon and J. Gordon on the road courses. Guess these guys are going to have figure out some new tricks to retake their roles as the major threats at road courses.
But then again, maybe not. Guess even the stars of road courses can have off days.
Just goes to prove that any given race, on any given day, given the right car and driver anyone can win a race.
Congratulations to Kevin Harvick and the 29 Team on their first road course win. Hopefully this will not be your only one.
