October 19, 2008
By Kim Roberson
Kim Roberson
|
Surprise, surprise, surprise.
Another week, another rain out for qualifying. It seems like just last week I was talking about the starting grid being set by points because of rain….of wait, it WAS just last week.
Nine out of 35 races now set by points. 26% of the season.
I wasn’t the only one talking about setting the starting grid by points this week, and a heated debate was started on Tuesday morning by Mike Bagley, MRN turn reporter, and David Poole, NASCAR reporter for the Charlotte Observer. David commented that he didn’t understand why NASCAR doesn’t at least allow the go-or-go homers the chance to take qualifying laps on the next available morning after qualifying is rained out, thus allowing them the chance to get in on speed instead of points. Mike responded by saying that by allowing those cars to take the three laps needed for qualifying, those cars (however many there might be) would be getting an unfair advantage by getting more time on the track than the top 35 cars.
(Flash back to last week when I asked “So why do we have to ensure the top 35 are locked in anymore? And if we are keeping the top 35, and know we have an extra day to get the go or go homers qualifying laps, why not allow them to take the laps and have them start in the back of the pack in the order in which they qualify? They will be starting back there anyway, right? When a small team goes through the effort of not only building a car, but coming financed with a sponsor, why rob them of not only the chance to race, but the money to help fund their effort?”)
During their discourse, Bagley and Poole took calls from the crew chief of the 07 Jack Daniels Chevy, Gil Martin, and driver of the 24 Dupont Chevy, Jeff Gordon.
Bagley was pretty certain both men would side with him before taking the calls.
He was very, very wrong.
“A lot of times, let’s say it does rain, and they drag the whole day out into 5 or 6 o’clock, you can’t get prepared for Saturday morning because… they are hoping beyond hope they will get those guys a chance to qualify. It would give NASCAR a bit more leverage where they could shut qualifying down on Friday…and give those 8-10-12 cars a chance to qualify on Saturday morning. They have spent a lot of money to get there to just have to turn them around on Friday and go home. I don’t think the track time will make much of a difference, but the monetary value that they have spent on that race to just get sent home Friday with no chance when they could have a 30 minute qualifying session on Saturday probably wouldn’t be a bad deal” explained Martin, from the Crew Chief’s perspective.
Jeff agreed with Poole as well. “There should be a window of opportunity…they should at least make every attempt to get those guys qualified into the field, because you are talking about sending a car home. You aren’t talking about position, because obviously they would start behind the top 35, those guys would all be set by points…I think it makes absolute sense and we’ve seen it happen so many times this year. I agree with it, the guys outside of the top 35..it has made it very exciting to watch who is getting in and whose not getting in, and so I think that when you are talking about sending teams home, I think they should be given an extra opportunity to be put in the field legitimately by time instead of who mailed in their entry blank on time and where they are at outside of the top 35 in points, so I think it is a great idea.”
NASCAR has already stated they won’t be making any major rules changes next year, but maybe they will re-consider as they look back at the number of times qualifying was foiled by mother nature. If you have a four time champion saying he has no problem with allowing the go-or-go-homers the chance to qualify by themselves, then why not do it?
It looks like today will be a nice, sunny, crisp day, and we should have some great racing for that coveted grandfather clock trophy. Yesterday dawned much nicer than Friday as well…and there was plenty of time to squeeze in the opportunity for nine cars to take a few laps of qualifying around the track. Unfortunately, thanks to the current rules, Sterling Marlin and Derrick Cope, and their respective teams, went home without ever having the chance to get their cars out on the track.
Moving on to another topic, Barrett Jackson held their first ever car auction in Las Vegas this weekend. It was no Scottsdale (which is held each January…usually the same week as Cup testing at Daytona), however some of the cars they had were familiar to those of us who enjoy racing. Two of the cars across the block on Thursday night were a number 2 Miller Light Dodge driven by Kurt Bush and a number 7 Dodge 'Car of Tomorrow' driven at Bristol this year by Robby Gordon.
The Description for the 2 car was as follows; “This NASCAR raced at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March of 2007 and has the Set Up Sheet from the race. It is a downforce car and chassis #080. The dashboard is autographed by Kurt Busch, Roger Penske and Pat Tryson. Also features a 12 1/2 : 1 Flat Tappet, Penske Jasper Cup engine, 4 New Goodyear racing tires, a 110" wheelbase, 22 gallon fuel cell, 4.11 gear ratio with Detroit locker, Brembo Brakes and Penske Racing Shocks. Kurt Busch will personally be on hand to auction off this rare vehicle. Proceeds from the sale of this car to benefit The Kurt Busch Foundation which supports The Victory Junction Gang Camp.”
For the 7 car, the description read; “The actual NASCAR driven by Robby Gordon in the 2008 Sharpie 500 at Bristol, TN. This car turned in the 8th fastest lap time in practice. Features the Planet Color Barrett-Jackson color scheme, Dodge NASCAR Cup V8 engine that produces over 700hp and 500 ft/lbs to the rear wheels, Penske shocks and Alcon / Raybestos calipers. The transmission is NASCAR spec 4-speed. The body of this NASCAR has a steel roof, hood and sides that were all fitted by hand. The interior features a RGM carbon dash, one Butler built seat and a Simpson 5-point harnesses. This RGM Chassis #202 Bristol car wrecked while running 20th at the Sharpie 500, but was re-painted and rebuilt for the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction. Robby Gordon will personally be on hand to auction off this unique and rare vehicle. “
Both drivers were on hand, and in the end, Robby’s car, which became the first CoT sold to a member of the general public, went under the hammer for $70,000, and Kurt’s car, along with a race-worn drivers’ uniform and racing gloves, raised $85,000 for VJG.
Mind you, these weren’t the first two Cup cars to go on the block at Barrett Jackson. Back in January, Tony Stewart sold one of his #20 Home Depot Monte Carlo’s at the Barrett Jackson Scottsdale auction. The ending bid, which not only covered the car, but a ring off Smoke’s finger and an autographed drivers’ suit, was $385,000. All $385k of that winning bid went to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, which helps victims, primarily children, suffering from paralyzing diseases and injury. One of the great things that BJ does with these “charity cars” is that every penny of those winning bids on the charity cars goes to the charity: they don’t take a commission; they don’t charge the listing fee. The winner of the auction makes the check directly to the charity.
Last night, a one of a kind piece of racing history went on the block: a 1949 MG TC racing roadster. “In 1952, Ed Wilkins let (Carroll) Shelby drive this MG TC in his first (road) race, which he won. From this race, he went on to become a legend in the automotive industry.” That is the joy of Barrett Jackson. Even if you can’t afford to buy any of the vehicles that cross the auction block, you can look, which doesn’t cost anything. And for a real “car person”, there is always plenty to look at.
Well, it is nearly race time, and today should prove to be interesting with the line-up set by points at a track where starting up front is pretty darned important. By the end of the day, someone will have a new clock, and we will be one race closer to knowing who will be the 2008 NASCAR Cup champion.
Good luck and safe racing to all, and have a wonderful week.
The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.
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