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After an extensive
break, the women of
Passin’ & Sassin’ have
returned to weigh in on
some hot topics in and
around the NASCAR Sprint
Cup world. As we head
toward the close of the
first quarter of racing
action, there is much
ado about everything in
this universe. From
drug policies to driver
quandaries; on to team
report cards and state
of the sport opines we
have it all right here
in a page or two.
Q: Hot topic of the
week is drug policies in
NASCAR. The current
policy is one of
community policing based
upon suspicion and
snitching. Do you feel
this is an effective
tactic in light of Shane
Hmiel last season and
Aaron Fike this season?
Christina Ribbeck:
Not at all! NASCAR
should test everyone,
drivers, crewmembers,
owners, officials, etc.
weekly. I know it would
be a little costly, but
NASCAR makes money, they
can afford to test
everyone that often. I
honestly think the
drivers and everyone
else would gladly pay
out of their pocket
since it’s their safety
at stake here.
Shannon Poe: I
took some time to listen
to a few sources on this
one. After thinking it
over, I have to say the
current policy might not
be enough. However, I
don’t care for “random”
tests, because that
really doesn’t
accomplish much more
than hassling drivers
and crew members and
catching no one in
particular. One
possible solution could
be random mass testing.
I think quarterly,
NASCAR needs to pick a
date, and test everyone
and keep the dates under
wraps. This would
amount to two-3 times
testing per year and I
think be most effective.
Chris Campbell:
I honestly believe the
current policy is as old
as the hills and needs
some drastic revamping.
If a driver can admit
that he “shot up heroin”
the day of a race and
never was suspected or
tested – it was his
arrest by the police
that ended in his
suspension – then that
is a sad day in the
business and sport of
NASCAR. I would hate to
see a death of a driver,
official, crewmember, or
even fan that is in the
garage area before
NASCAR decides their
policy is wrong. They
should be pro-active in
this area and test every
driver at least
quarterly to ensure the
safety of everyone at
the track. After all,
the drivers are using a
dangerous machine that
can cause death.
Q: Two-time champion
Tony Stewart is entering
talks with Joe Gibbs
Racing about his future
this week. The rumor
mill has been quoted as
saying that Stewart is
considering an early
release from his
contract that is valid
through the 2009 season,
based in some part on
returning to Chevrolet
or possibly owning or
co-owning his own team.
What do you think about
this rumor? Where do
you think Stewart would
be placed?
Christina Ribbeck:
We all know that most
rumors that come along
in NASCAR turn out to be
true, so I think this is
going to happen. I do
not like it at all (I’m
a little biased to this
question). Tony has had
a great 10 years with
JGR and he needs to keep
his butt there and
finish out his career.
Then if he wants to be
part owner or full
owner, go for it, AFTER
he is done racing! STAY
PUT TONY!
Shannon Poe:
Stewart has to do what
he has to do. If owning
his own team (or
co-owning) is his dream,
then I totally support
that. Then
again…Richard Childress
Racing wants that 4th
team. He’ll be in
demand if he decides to
terminate early, or even
at the end of the 2009
season. I think I look
for him to stick with
JGR, however. He has a
good thing going, good
support personnel, and
an owner that knows how
to deal with him. All
these things are
necessary to create that
ever-important harmony
that is a team.
Chris Campbell:
Although all the parties
involved emphatically
deny this rumor, most
rumors usually have some
element of truth in
them. I don’t think Tony
likes the new Kyle Busch
bandwagon and we all
know he absolutely loves
Chevrolet. Remember JGR
denied the rumors about
Toyota and Hendrick said
there was no room at the
inn for Junior, just to
name a few rumors that
were denied repeatedly.
Q: The Car of Today
(formerly known as the
Car of Tomorrow) has so
far produced some
interesting finishes and
opinions from drivers in
NASCAR Sprint Cup. How
would you rate the
overall performance of
the car? Do you see any
one team dominating the
sport this year with
this new technology?
Christina Ribbeck:
I
will give the COT an 8.5
right now. There are
some improvements or
tweaks that could be
done, but the safety in
this car is excellent
and Michael McDowell can
tell you that. Now if
NASCAR could just get
rid of the boring
tracks, I would be just
about satisfied.
Shannon Poe:
This is tough. I find
myself torn between
driver opinion that runs
negative, and my own
misgivings about the
car. One thing I cannot
argue is the safety
aspect (and the most
important in the grand
scheme of things.)
Several hard-hitting
wrecks and spins have
proven the car has a
tough shell. Still,
when the car goes away
from a driver, it seems
to be a done deal. In
terms of stretching out
a race to very little
side by side racing,
this car seems to suck.
I give it 7 out of 10.
Needs some improvement,
I believe it will come
with time.
Chris Campbell:
The COT has caused some
of the most boring races
in my memory of over 17
years of NASCAR. Yes,
the finishes are close
and there are some lead
changes – but that
usually happens around
the cautions and pit
stops. The close
finishes are due to a
late caution that
bunches the field – not
because the race was
actually exciting. Gibbs
Racing seems to dominate
the race itself, but
never has it at the end.
The rest of the field is
trying to figure out the
car still.
The following section is
a report card of the top
teams and manufacturers
in NASCAR Sprint Cup
competition. The
members of Passin’ &
Sassin’ will be
assigning a grade, and
reason for the grade to
each of them.
Q: Hendrick Motorsports/Chevrolet
Christina Ribbeck:
B
… The media this year is
trying to make this team
better than they
currently are. Yes,
they have led laps and
have had a win, but they
are still struggling.
Once they get it all
together, they will be
headed back to the top.
Shannon Poe: B+
Obviously Dale Earnhardt
Jr is doing well.
Steadily pocketing top
five and top ten
finishes and climbing up
the point board. Jeff
Gordon has had a
terrible year so far,
but I would never count
him out. I didn’t count
Jimmie Johnson out,
either, and you see what
happened on a
fuel-deciding race at
Phoenix! No one could
expect Hendrick to
always be on top—what
fun would the sport be
then? Still, one thing
you can count on is that
Rick Hendrick is not
afraid to spend money
and do his homework.
They may be slightly
down, but far from out.
Chris Campbell:
B -- Hendrick has shown
some flaws this season,
and I’m surprised. With
all the raves about Chad
Knaus and his ingenious
ideas, has actually been
heard saying he had no
idea how to fix the car.
Of course, this just
fuels the fire of the
Earnhardt Jr haters that
he’s being given all the
good equipment (although
his fans are jumping all
over Eury Jr for not
providing the wins).
Jimmie Johnson had a
fuel mileage win but if
this were last year, he
would have won by a lap
or two. They have a
bunch to fix to raise
this grade.
Q: Roush-Fenway
Racing/Ford
Christina Ribbeck:
C …
They have two drivers in
the top 12 so far, but
overall they are having
a rough season so far.
The whole cheating
scandal with Carl
Edwards still weighs on
everyone’s mind and I
just don’t think they
have bounced back from
it yet.
Shannon Poe: A-
--
Carl Edwards and
his victory lane flips
are what carry the grade
for this team. Hands
down, he is on fire in
the first part of this
season. If the other
four people don’t step
it up, then this grade
will begin to fall
shortly after the 600 at
Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Chris Campbell:
B -- Roush needs to get
some other Ford
teammates to help him
out. They are becoming
as rare and antique as
the Edsel. Decent races
but nothing to write
home about – oh except
for Edwards’ three wins
of course. I just see
those wins as standard
for Carl – all on the
same type of track. I
won’t say more until we
get to a variety of
tracks and see the same
winning percentages. In
addition, one good team
of five doesn’t raise
this grade – without
Edwards I’d have to rate
them a low C.
Q: Joe Gibbs
Racing/Toyota
Christina Ribbeck:
A
… they have all three
drivers in the top seven
in points right now.
Two of the three have a
win under their belt and
it’s only a matter of
time until Tony gets his
first win this year.
This is the team the
rest of the drivers need
to watch this season.
Tony’s stats in the past
have him posting great
finishes in the second
half of the year and the
Toyota’s have been very
strong so far. Tony has
two championships and
knows what it takes to
win another
championship.
Shannon Poe:
A – Gibbs Racing has had
its share of bum deals.
Hamlin and Stewart
within a few laps were
cost a race at Bristol.
Hamlin has rallied
back. The shining star
in this camp is Kyle
Busch. Busch is
definitely an
interesting driver to
watch on the track
whether you love him or
hate him. He also has
some of the best radio
conversations out
there. One issue is
that Busch puts it all
out there and keeps
nothing in reserve. He
will have to curb that
from the longevity
standpoint, but it seems
to be working for him
now.
Chris Campbell:
A- -- I’d have loved to
give them a straight A,
but I haven’t seen the
finishes after the
dominance. It’s still
early in the season for
Tony Stewart; he doesn’t
usually kick it into
high gear until the heat
comes in the summer.
Kyle Busch has to learn
that the only lap that
really matters is the
last lap. Denny Hamlin –
needs to keep learning,
he’s great, just not all
knowing yet.
Q: Richard Childress
Racing/Chevrolet
Christina Ribbeck:
A
… they also have all
three drivers in the top
eight in points right
now. RCR seems to come
on strong then fade over
the season. If they can
keep it altogether, they
will give JGR a run for
their money.
Shannon Poe: A
– How could I not give
them an A? A 1, 2, 3
finish at Bristol!
Watch Clint Boyer, he
like a shark! Stays
under the radar, but
look at his finishes;
he’s solid. Harvick is
due a win shortly, and
Burton got his in by
default. I frankly have
to pick this team as the
one to watch out for.
Any engine issues from
last season seem to be
sorted out and they work
well together. The sky
is the limit.
Chris Campbell:
A -- What can I say when
this organization has
all three teams in the
top 10 in points. Clint
Bowyer is proving that
last year wasn’t a
fluke. Happy Harvick is
looking happy again now
that he appears to be
consistent for the most
part. Jeff Burton is
quietly as ever keeping
his lead on the points –
he might not give it up.
Q: Gillette-Evernham
Racing/Dodge
Christina Ribbeck:
C+
… Kasey Kahne is the
only one in the top 10
in points and seems to
be having a good year so
far, (if he can stay out
of the wall). The
merger is new, so it
will take a little time
to get everyone on the
same page, but they have
the potential to get
better and will compete
for a title and win one
soon.
Shannon Poe:
D+ -- One hopes that the
merger has smoothed out,
and that the team
building should be
coming to completion.
Still, Gillette-Evernham
is struggling.
Definitely need a
turnaround in the very
near future. I’ll grant
you, Kahne is in the top
12, but he is barely
hanging on. He need to
fire whatever PR person
told him to wear that
goofy jumpsuit in the
Allstate commercial!
ICK!
Chris Campbell:
C+ -- Some good races
here and there, some
spark of brilliance, but
not an ever-glowing
light yet. I’m glad Ray
Evernham has returned to
doing a little more of
what he does best – and
keeping his personal
life out of the
spotlight. Kasey Kahne
needs to focus a little
more on his driving than
dancing in commercials
(oh that suit he wears
in that commercial is
not going to help his
image – wonder what his
other sponsor thinks of
that?) What the heck is
up with Sadler? I often
forget he is racing,
except when they mention
he is spinning out.
Q: Michael Waltrip
Racing/Toyota
Christina Ribbeck:
D
… This team needs
serious help. I don’t
know what is going on in
their camp but they are
struggling.
Shannon Poe:
F – Joe Gibbs racing
proved that Toyota can
be a winning
manufacturer in this
sport. Waltrip has the
sponsorship, has young
and veteran drivers, and
that is about where it
ends. I could
understand last year and
the slump they fell
into, hard. It seems
Waltrip’s only goal is
to secure the top 35 in
point status and leave
it at that.
Chris Campbell:
D -- Michael take a page
from Evernham – you are
a good owner and
marketing genius. Get
out from behind the
wheel and be a good
manager. As far as the
drivers, can’t really
say much beyond that
tumble of McDowell’s
seems to reflect the two
seasons that Waltrip
Racing has been in the
cup series – rough and
tumble. (PS Kyle Petty
is another one that
needs to be an owner and
announcer and give up
racing. McCumbee is good
if you give him a decent
chance.)
Q: Dale Earnhardt
Incorporated/Chevrolet
Christina Ribbeck:
C+
… With the departure of
Dale Jr., that puts
Martin Truex, Jr. as the
top dog right now. He
is a great driver and
has a really good
future, so in time he’ll
be up there with
everyone else. It can’t
be easy to replace Dale
Jr., but Martin is his
own person and will make
a name for himself with
his talent. DEI has
some up and coming stars
in Aric Almirola,
Paul Menard &
Regan Smith, so be on
the lookout for DEI very
soon.
Shannon Poe:
C+ -- Dale Earnhardt
Inc. have their work cut
out for them. I do not
believe they are
struggling in the wake
of the living namesake’s
departure; but I do
believe the past
struggles of the last
several years continue
to haunt them. The
merger with Ginn Racing
bought them a fast track
to a four-car team, but
it’s hard to sustain
that when performance
continues to splutter
and die. Engine
failures and other bad
luck plague them. They
basically have the same
workload to do as they
did last year. The
whole situation seems
very repetitive, and
very predictable. Not
pretty to watch.
Chris Campbell:
C -- I am surprised that
Mark Martin and Aric
Almirola are doing so
well splitting seat
time. Martin Truex Jr is
certainly coming along.
Paul Menard is barely
making us notice him on
the track--that is not a
good thing. I think when
these teams start to gel
we will see some better
results. Wait until
Dover – that will be
when they kick it into
overdrive.
Q: Penske Racing/Dodge
Christina Ribbeck:
C- -- The Penske teams
really need to figure
out what is going on in
their camp. The past
few seasons have not
been that great for
them. The only things I
can say are Ryan won the
Daytona 500, Kurt, and
Tony Stewart have had
some issues, that’s
about all.
Shannon Poe:
D – Newman winning the
Daytona 500 is about all
they have to brag
about. That won’t carry
you far.
Chris Campbell:
C- -- Have these teams
been racing since
Daytona? A pole here, a
win there, and a so-so
race most of the time
just doesn’t get high
grades from me. Ryan
Newman might be up for
that open position with
RCR next season. Kurt
Busch – oh, the other
brother who has been
screwed over by the swap
in points position in
favor of the rookie.
Sorry they are only one
step or two above
Michael Waltrip Racing.
Do you have a question
or comment? Email them
to
passin@speedwaymedia.com.
The opinions expressed
in this article are
solely those of the
writers of this article,
and are not by
definition the
viewpoints of
Speedwaymedia.com, nor
any entity affiliated
with NASCAR
to include any sponsors.
J
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