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As The Engine Revs: Busch, Stewart Receive 6-Race Probation
13 February 08 10:49 AM | scoutmom | 2 comment(s)
"He hit me!" "He hit me first!" "Nuh uh!!! He started it!!" No, that isn't a transcript of my boys and their latest brush up. Well, it is, but put that aside for now because this time the parties involved are Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart. After all was said and done, NASCAR has now handed out what it deems to be the appropriate penalty. One that lets everyone know that these guys went too far - but just a little. On Tuesday it was announced that they will each be put on probation for six races. No, not secret double probation, just the "you guys had better watch it" kind. According to NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston if they had done their bumping and shoving on pit road where crew members were working, instead of out on the track, the measures would have been more severe. "We took a lot into consideration," Poston said. "The drivers do have greater latitude, pit road was closed, there was no personnel on the track. It's an emotional...
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As The Engine Revs - New Season, Same Bad Blood: Stewart, Busch Trade Bumpers, Fists Fly
10 February 08 06:25 PM | scoutmom | with no comments
So, how long did it take for the drama to begin with the new season of NASCAR? Not even 24 hours. On just the first day of Speedweeks, the bad blood between Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch was flowing full force. If this is a preview of things to come, man, you better buckle yourself in, it's going to be a WILD ride! The two played a game of bumper tag during the final practice session on Friday, with predictable results. So what happened? Tony bumped Kurt and spun him into the wall, Tony went low and hit teammate Denny Hamlin. But it didn't end there. Oh, no it kept right on going. Kurt charged after Tony and hit his car...and hit it again...and again...and then he blocked him from driving off the track to the garage. But it gets better! On Saturday morning, Tony and Kurt were called to THE trailer to meet with NASCAR officials to discuss the incidents. And although it was originally reported as a "civil" meeting, apparently NASCAR has a different idea about civil than the...
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A Little Bit of a Bunch of Stuff
29 October 07 06:25 PM | scoutmom | 2 comment(s)
You got your Red Sox, your Yankees, your football...and more
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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Sports
27 September 07 07:24 AM | scoutmom | 2 comment(s)
First you have to wade through the "bad" and the "ugly", but hang with it. The good at the end makes it all worthwhile. 1. Michael Vick is an idiot. 2. Barry Bonds steroid use (oh, sorry, "alleged" steroid use) has turned him into the "Biggest Loser". 3. The New York Mets are pulling a '69 Cubs. Go Phillies! 4. Somebody has finally knocked some sense into Lovie Smith. (However Rex STILL doesn't get it.) 5. Did I already say "Michael Vick is an idiot? Well he's twice the idiot now with the whole marijuana thing. 6. It is not possible for there to be a worse division than the NL Central - the first place team loses and still has their magic number drop (Go Cubs) and the second place team loses, then claims "We're in a situation where we no longer control our own destiny." Huh? 7. Major League umpire Mike Winters is a total putz! 8. Milton Bradley (the player, not the board game manufacturer) has learned an important lesson...
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As The Engine Revs - Part XXVIII
25 September 07 09:05 AM | scoutmom | 5 comment(s)
In our continuing saga of that thing called "NASCAR"... Carl Edwards, hoping to be the first driver to win both the Cup and the Busch series, hits a bit of a roadblock along the way. Although he won the crash filled race at Dover, his car failed the post race inspection. He still gets to keep his victory, but it's almost a certainty that he will be penalized in some way. "The car was found to be too low in the right-rear," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "The height exceeded NASCAR's tolerances. "This is not considered a Car of Tomorrow-type penalty. There's no evidence of manipulation of the integrity of the structure of the car. It's a heights-inspection infraction." Of course, Edwards is keeping his fingers crossed that it will be discovered that it was some post-race bumping by his teammate Greg Biffle - who finished 2nd - was the cause of the problem. "The worse case would be 25 points, the right-rear being low -- any engineer...
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Blame Canada? Robby Gordon Parked After Confusion in Montreal Busch Race
05 August 07 12:16 PM | scoutmom | 1 comment(s)
In NASCAR, the rules say if you get spun out during a caution, you return to the position you were in when it happened. And that's what Robby Gordon did Saturday when he was in second place at the Busch Series race in Montreal. Unfortunately for him, NASCAR said the spin happened BEFORE the caution came out, so they wanted him to drop back to 14th place. And, that's what they eventually told his crew chief, who passed it along to Robby. Problem is, as far as Robby was concerned, he wasn't that far back when he got spun out under the yellow, so why should he give up all those spots? He stayed right where he was, even when he was told he was being black flagged (sent to the back) and they waved that black flag with the white cross at him. Nope, he stayed right up front and crossed the finish line first. By then, there was so much confusion that three drivers did donuts in celebration. You had the winner (Kevin Harvick), the runner up (Patrick Carpentier) and the guy who THOUGHT...
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NASCAR Mid-Season Standings
13 July 07 01:40 PM | scoutmom | with no comments
This year, for the first time, I'm participating in a NASCAR Fantasy League. Although I've followed the sport for years (yes, it is TOO a sport!), this is the the first chance I've been invited to join in the league here at work. Although I was apparently a curse upon Tony Stewart, all three of my active drivers were in the top 10. We redraw at midseason, and although I don't have the same lineup (Stewart, Burton and Truex), I did score the first draw again and grabbed Jeff Gordon. Now, I have to admit, he's not my favorite driver - my top guys are Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex, Jeff Burton and Mark Martin (oh, yeah, and I would be disowned by my sons if I didn't say Jr. and Kenseth) - but I have to admit it seems to be his year and I grabbed the chance to draft him. Here are the top 12 in the Race for the Chase. Twelve drivers will qualify for the Chase this year, thanks to some changes in the rules . Nextel Cup Series Official Standings Pos. Driver Points Behind...
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As The Engine Revs - Yes, Someone Else Screwed Up
13 July 07 01:33 PM | scoutmom | with no comments
You know, we're halfway through the season and STILL we have guys who don't quite get it. Granted, this is not nearly as severe a violation or penalty as we've seen earlier in the season (no one suspended - "just" a $25,000 fine and probation for the crew chief, and only 25 owner and driver points) but still... NASCAR Official Report: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR has issued penalties and fines to the No. 7 team that competes in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, as a result of rule infractions found last week at Daytona International Speedway. The No. 7 Ford, driven by Robby Gordon , was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-6.7C (8) (unapproved camera shell) of the 2007 NASCAR rule book. The violations were found during opening day inspection on July 5. Gordon has been penalized 25 championship driver and 25 championship owner...
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As The Engine Revs - A New Installment in the Continuing Saga of Problems in NASCAR
23 June 07 12:29 PM | scoutmom | with no comments
In the continuing saga of cheating - or as the teams claim "inadvertant, honest mistakes" - we now find our way to Hendrick Motorsports and teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. This installment brings us to illegal front fenders on the No. 24 and No. 48 cars and the drivers banned from practice and qualifying. The teams were, however, allowed to alter the fenders and get the cars back through inspection on Friday. Saturday morning brought official approval. ``Everything is fine,'' said Doug Duchardt, vice president of development for Hendrick. ``We're way behind, but we'll just go out there and prepare today the way we would on any Saturday and hope for the best.'' ohnson and Gordon will start 41st and 42nd in the 43-car lineup for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350. For Johnson the key is to concentration.He also can't focus on the time the two lost.. ``We can't get that back,'' he said. ``We just have to make sure that when we do...
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Dale Earnhardt Jr Makes It Official - Joins Hendrick Motorsports
13 June 07 10:35 AM | scoutmom | 3 comment(s)
It’s official. In a press conference at 11:00 ET Wednesday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. confirmed the rumors that he will be joining Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2008. They’re already calling it the "New World Order". What a team: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears and now Dale Earnhardt Jr. Nothing was said about where Kyle Busch would be going. There was also no word yet on his sponsors or car number. Way back in May, Darrell Waltrip said it would be the best choice for Jr. Hendrick Motorsports was always a possibility, but speculation began in earnest when Jr. stepped in during the Samsung 500 to finish the race when his car was wrecked and Kyle Busch was nowhere to be found. Oh, he insisted that it was nothing, but… What’s next? Well, first of all, Jr.’s fans are going to have to get over the fact that he’s now on the team with the guys they love to hate – Gordon and Johnson. Hey, guys? Get over it, he chose them. They are now his friends. You’re gonna have to learn to...
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The Man Who Built the NASCAR Legacy Dies at 74
05 June 07 06:20 AM | scoutmom | with no comments
The man who made NASCAR everything it is today has died. Bill France Jr., who took NASCAR from a small Southern sport and transformed it into a nationwide phenomena passed away Monday at the age of 74 after a protracted battle with cancer and other health issues. A man with a keen business sense, over 31 years he shepherded NASCAR’s move into the mainstream with big-time corporate sponsorships, sold-out races, full-season broadcast schedule and mega salaries for the drivers. But there was sweat and toil there, too. France literally helped build Daytona International Speedway, a Mecca to many of today’s NASCAR fans, working 12 hours a day, seven days a week driving the heavy equipment for more than a year while the track was built. He once even tried to use a mule to pull trees out of the swamps, because the motorized equipment kept getting stuck. "He's the one probably most responsible for the state of our sport today," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR's most popular driver...
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Car of Tomorrow to be Used Exclusively a Year Early
23 May 07 05:30 PM | scoutmom | with no comments
There were a few goals set out when they began development of the Car of Tomorrow in a seven-year project: First, and foremost, was to develop a universal car with increased driver safety. (It is.) Second, less expensive to race. (Well, if the engines quit blowing up.) And, third, a car that was 'better for racing' by creating more passing and closer finishes. (The margin of victory has dropped from 1.286 seconds to .505 seconds.) After running just five races this year, the decision has been made to roll out the Car of Tomorrow exclusively for next year, a full year early. "The majority of car owners actually came to us and said 'Now that we are up and running the car, it doesn't make sense to have two parallel programs moving forward,'" said competition director Robin Pemberton. "It seems to us that everyone is working on the Car of Tomorrow now and ready to use it exclusively." The owners have a reason to move it up a year - beyond the "two parallel programs" part - and that would be...
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The Return of "As The Engine Revs" - Episode 57: All Junior, All The Time
16 May 07 07:44 AM | scoutmom | 1 comment(s)
When last we left the scandalous world of NASCAR, owners were being penalized and crew chiefs were being suspended for various infractions involving modified parts, tampered engines and illegal substances. Fast forward to Tuesday. Dun dun dunnnnnnn (ominous music is so hard to translate into type!) It was found that outdated brackets were (supposedly) accidentally used on the rear wing of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s COT. The result? Junior was docked 100 points, and crew chief Tony Eury Jr., who also happens to be Jr.'s cousin, was fined $100,000 and suspended six races for an illegal modification to the Car of Tomorrow at Darlington Raceway. Yes, of course they are appealing. Eury claims it was just an oversight. ``It was kind of just a bad deal, a part that got on there that shouldn't have,'' he said. ``There was a lot of offseason testing for NASCAR. There's been like three different kinds of brackets on there and it just happened to be one of the old-style brackets.'' Then he added ``It really...
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Little D To Head Out On His Own
10 May 07 07:36 PM | scoutmom | 2 comment(s)
"We've decided it's time for us to move on and seek opportunities to drive for another team in 2008." Dale Earnhardt, Jr. At the end of this season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be leaving DEI, the company founded by his father and currently owned by his stepmother. Right now, he's focusing on winning the championship and said he doesn't know yet where he'll be racing next year, but there are a few things he's looking at that kind of narrow things down. He's looking for an organization where he can compete for a championship -- still in a Chevy. That makes Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing the most obvious choices. Oh, and keep Budweiser as his primary sponsor, which likely would knock JGR out of the mix. "Personally, it would be hard for us," said team president J.D. Gibbs, referring to the company's stance on companies that sell alcoholic beverages. "[Budweiser] is a great partner in the sport, but for us it would be tough." "We know how hard it is to add...
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Car of Tomorrow - Not the Right Kind of New Car Smell
27 April 07 08:00 AM | scoutmom | with no comments
The Car of Tomorrow stinks. No, really! During the Phoenix race, some of the drivers were complaining about the fumes. But that's just a small part of their complaints. Apparently, a lot of the top guys feel they aren't really race cars. The CoT was created to make a safer car and one that also provides better competition. They wanted a car that would not only have more passing, but side-by-side duels. Want to know what the drivers say? "I could see the leaders almost the whole race, and it was like we all were just out there running the exact same lap times. It was a parade. I was bored. No one could pass anybody else -- we were all equal it seemed." -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. "To be as nice as I can...it's frustrating. People will say, 'But went from the back to the front.' But,yeah, it took us 300 laps to do it when it shouldn't have. Our car was just that much better than everyone else's...I don't know how we're going to run these cars on bigger tracks without changes." -- Denny Hamlin...
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