This edition of Hot or Not is coming to you live from the pits courtesy of the Miller Lite Racing team! A special thank you goes out to the #2 Brew Crew for hosting me again this weekend.
HOT
1. JimmieJohnson- A contender all night long who made the call himself to stay out and gamble on gas as he coasted all the way to Victory Lane. The Lowes team is finally firing on all cylinders and might be on the verge of getting hotter than a jalapeno.
2. Richard Childress Racing – Jeff Burton started 39th and was collected in Newman’s oil spill but still managed to stay on the lead lap. He and teammate Clint Bowyer both gambled on fuel and hit pay dirt with a second place finish for the No. 07 team and another sixth place finish for the No. 31 team as they leave the desert still leading the points.
3. Carl Edwards – Raced early for the lead but got caught a lap down mid-race and had a pit road violation when his team jumped off the wall too soon- they must have seen a rattlesnake! Edwards was back in the Top 10 with 50 laps to go and brought it home an impressive fourth…told ya he would be riding high into the sunset.
4. Mark Martin – The wily veteran did his best roadrunner impression when he took the lead on lap 272 and looked to be in position to win but ended up fifth because they were one lapshort on fuel. Beep, Beep!
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Jr. led throughout and looked poised to finally end his winless streak but a tight race car and the need for fuel left him with a 7th place finish. Jr. Nation looked like leapin’ lizards in the stands as he raced his old No. 8 car late in the running of the Subway Fit 500 and provided some of the most exciting racing on Saturday night.
NOT
1. Matt Kenseth – Went one lap down 37 laps into the race and 5 laps later smacked the wall causing serious damage to the right front suspension. The No. 17 DeWalt team missed the set up big time and Kenseth’s 300th start was snake bit.
2. Ryan Newman – The pole sitter went from first to worst (43rd) during the 312 lap Sprint Cup race Saturday night. They could have filled the Grand Canyon with all the oil that spilled out of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge when Newman’s engine blew on lap 133. Newman fell two more spots to 12th in the point standings.
3. Gillette Evernham Motorsports – The Valley of the Sun wasn’t much fun for GEM. Elliott Sadler’s day started off promising from the outside pole but a blown engine gave him a 41st place finish. His teammate Kasey Kahne fought a loose race car all day and brought out the 8th caution after he blew a tire, slapped the wall, and eventually finished 36th.
4. Joe Nemechek – Front Row Joe managed to qualify but didn’t race much as he blew a right front tire early and finished 40th. The Furniture Row racing team is way outside the Top 35 in points and is feeling the heat….but at least it’s a dry heat!
5. Dodge- Of the eleven Dodge machines in the race, only Bobby Labonte finished inside the Top 15 on Saturday night. Nine Dodges finished 20th or worse and three of those were in positions 41-43. The manufacturers teams combined to experience two engine failures in cars that started on the front row, a brake problem and several wrecks. Dodge started the year winning the Daytona 500 but they seem to be the weakest manufacturer in NASCAR now, even though they had two cars on the front row at Phoenix International Raceway. Let’s hope as Dodge leaves Phoenix, they too can rise from the ashes.
My weekly picks are dedicated to the memory of Cindi Redding who was respected and loved by all who knew her, especially her friends in the FOXSports.com community.
k, excellent list. I agree. I wonder what is the problem with Dodge? They were coming on strong at the beginning of the season. Did you get a "scoop" on David Stremme driving/testing for Penske? Thanks!
Vol- Hard to say whats going on with Dodge...I didn't get the scoop on Stremme, he wasn't hanging around the #2 garage at all but will be sure to investigate at Sonoma. The rumor he might take Sam's ride is interesting. Thanks for coming by!
Yee- List was tough this week, lots of contenders for both ends. The pic of Martin is perfect! Loved the finish, it was a bit chaotic in the pits with tv crews running around trying to figure out who was going to win. It was the best race next to the Daytona 500 this year so far...
Hanahan- Sadler is having a horrible time over at GEM, I cant believe he isnt looking around. At least his back seemed better.
csp- Many fans think the same, I like Eury Jr but he is no Knaus. He is doing better than LeTarte though!
Tez - Yep, Martin was one lap short no matter how they calculated it. I was next to the 8 pit and was listening in. I was a little surprised they didnt go for it since he isnt running for the Championship but thats how sure they were he would run out. Big NOT for SkyTV as well!
I was gonna ask, who chooses the photos? The shot of Matt and his "stinky face" is perfect, as is the shot of Mark. He looks like Popeye's dad, ####deck Pappy!
My Comment is on Mark Martin I have seen Mark race and he does know how to save gas. I know for a fact Mark could have won this race. It sure was good to see him run laps, next to Dale Jr.
KLV - Gosh, I was definitely pulling for Martin. He was right up front for quite a bit...too bad they couldnt stretch out that fuel mileage. Kudos to Johnson's team, it's not always an easy feat to get a victory on fuel mileage.
Too bad for Sadler...he had such a promising start. And Kahne didnt fair too well either at Phoenix. Another good list this week, Kristen.
Photogr - I think pitting under green with 30-40 laps to go would take them off the lead lap so they wait as long as possible hoping they can get a caution giving them enough fuel to finish or to pit without losing a lap.
That is a definite possibility but you would think a car with fresh tires might be faster and make up enough ground to be in contention at the last couple laps. However, a 1 mile track may not allow that possibility. Just a thought.
so, i guess having not finished below 6th place in the last 4 races doesn't constitute as "hot" on this list.... well, atleast she showing love to all the same ole' same ole's...........
You would think they would come in with 30 to 40 laps left to get new tires and top off thus giving them time to catch back up with the front runners.
I was shocked that someone didn't go for this strategy, myself. Not a true championship contender, of course, but someone like Yates or MWR. I remember a race at Richmond where Mark Martin took four tires on an odd stop and ended up passing every car on the lead lap on the way to the win. Not saying that would have happened of course, but I was surprised no one went for it - it also could have forced everyone to pit instead of letting the guys run down to the end, if four tires proved to be that much faster over a 30-lap run.
I AGREE ALL THE WAY DOWN. ONE THING THAT BOTHERED ME , AFTER THE RACE WHEN THEY INTERVIEWED JR. HE REALLY SEEMED LIKE HE WAS AT THE END OF HIS ROPE. AND ONCE AGAIN HE TOOK ALL THE BLAME ON HIMSELF. EURY JR. HAS GOT TO GO, YOU GOT ANY PULL IN THAT CAMP.
RA6AN- the NASCAR editor here at Fox chooses the pictures...they do a good job with it! I will put up some of my own pics in the next several hot or not blogs too. Thanks for coming by!
Jr81- I thought it was great to see the 8 and 88 racing, clean but intense. I thought Mark would for sure gamble since he isnt running for that Championship but they were confident on the radio he would run out and and couldnt stretch it. Thanks for reading.
Gerrel- Lots of fans were on their feet when Mark and Jr were racing and both would have been huge fan favs if they had won. GEM has to do something to change the ship around...wonder if Evernham talking to Martin Truex will amount to anything.
Photo- I thought someone would do that strategy too but I think with the rash of cautions and cars being caught a lap down earlier by pitting and getting caught by a yellow made them all push it as long as they could. Dunno though?!
Hoosier- Thats as good an explanation as any! Good to see your still around this week...
Kaos- Not sure who your refering too but many contenders for Hot this week, the notable one missing is Hamlin and he has gotten many props on my lists of late....your always welcome to add to the list. Thanks for commenting.
JJD- Good point. I wonder if some of the teams knew they could make it. I know Kurt decided to push it to the end just to test their fuel mileage on the smaller fuel cell and they made it so?? Seems like more teams in the mid pack are playing it safer but the front runners are being more aggressive for wins to get the bonus points.
Photo- yep, I only got 5 spots apeice and rely on you guys to add the rest!
GUNNY- Jr was clearly frustrated...I walked back to the garage with Eury Jr and he didnt seem that upset, just shrugged and said "we will get one one of these days"...I dont have any pull in that camp...yet!! ;)
Jon-Where do you think E.Sad will end up? I agree, he has to be lookin'. As always, thanks for coming by.
Stremme is suppose to do testing for Penske!! He will be the 4th car and simply for testing the COT. May driver for Sam, if Sam does the Indy 500!! Otherwise Sam is still in the 77!!
Ladydi- Good to see you back here on the blogs! Thanks for the info, I saw the article on it yesterday finally. Didnt see Mr. Penske or Stremme around the 12 or 2 teams but the 77 was on the opposite side of the garage so he might have been over there. Go Kurt!
Vick- WIth lights at the track it is tough to take good pics. I thought the photog's did a pretty good job. I had the unfortunate problem of taking shots into the lights (from the infield) so none of mine from the race are very good.
Photo- I know, I know if you were there the shots would all be of food! LOL
Forensic- Next time not only will I do H/N but also cover the pits and HOPEFULLY be driving my GGW #08 ride and visiting Victory Lane! Thanks for always supporting me guys...
A rare SF NASCAR fan who loves her Arizona Wildcats as well. By day, a well respected Psychologist, on weekends "Start Your Engines!!"
Winner of the 2007 "Miller Lite Next Great Sportswriter" Contest and contributing writer on FOXSports.com .
