Kenseth Wins Wet Daytona

February 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Bob Ellis

Nascar Ranting and Raving

Matt Kenseth leads one lap on a big push from Kevin Harvick to take the 43 car field to the red flag, which would eventually turn into a checkered flag when NASCAR determined that the race could not be re-started due to the rain.

kenseth 2009 daytona 500 medium 201x300 Kenseth Wins Wet Daytona

I'm all wet!

Congratulations to Kenseth and his Roush-Fenway team – proving that you only need to lead one lap to win a race.

Kenseth wasn’t exactly my pick to win the race on Sunday, I was kind of figuring that his Roush-Fenway teammate Greg Biffle would win – he evntually finished 20th.

In fact, I thought maybe Dale Jr might be able to pull off a win as we all know he is pretty good on restrictor plate tracks, but he instead pulled off the most talked about move of the day – his right turn in Brian Vickers.

I don’t honestly know if it was deliberate or not, I mean didn’t Jr wreck his teammate Michael Waltrip when he slid in front of Jr a few years ago?  And you must remember what happened to his father back in 2001, I certainly think he hasn’t forgot about it, and I don’t think he would deliberately put anyone else in that kind of position do you?

With that being said, I think maybe Jr might need to get his eyes checked.  He had problems getting into his pitbox all week and then he ‘misjudges’ his re-entry onto the track and takes out Vickers and several other front runners including Kyle Busch.

Speaking of Busch I think he handled himself quite well in his interview, don’t you?  I wonder what he would of said if it was anyone else but Jr – say Tony Stewart perhaps?


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NASCAR Looks To Get Around The Economy

January 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

By Bob Ellis

NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog

When I went to the Canadian Motorsports Expo on the weekend I had an interesting conversation with a die-hard Dale Jr fan, he was worried about the economic state of NASCAR.

He asked me about my thoughts on the subject which I coincidentally had already shared with a friend of mine at work just days before.

Basically here is how I see it, we will see races without a full field of cars this year – most likely at the tracks that are further away from NASCAR’s epicentre, Charlotte N.C. The number of cars trying to qualify for a race will decrease proportionately with the increase in travel distance from the race shops in the Charlotte area.

Also, you will see a lot of low calibre cars trying to make races that have larger purses like the Daytona 500, The Coca Cola 600 at Lowes and the Allstate 400 at Indy. Just making the race and running one lap can mean a $50 000 plus payday for some struggling teams. Look for these cars to run one lap and then go to the garage area because of ‘mechanical problems’. ‘Mechanical problems’ meaning they only have one motor (probably leased from a big name team like Hendrick) and they can’t afford to loose it because they need it to qualify and the next high paying race.

In a way NASCAR is returning to its roots in that they will struggle to fill race fields and that there will be some low budget teams trying to get some quick cash to support their struggling racing programs. This happened in the early days in NASCAR as well as during periods of the 1970′s, 1980′s, and 1990′s so this is nothing new to NASCAR although this is something new to the ‘new’ NASCAR of the new century and it’s new fans who never experienced this in NASCAR before.

Hey I just had a thought, maybe Tommy Baldwin has foreseen this situation and that is why he is starting his own team to run full-time. Since there will be fewer cars trying to make each race then his start-up team should make more races and maybe even compete for a top 35 spot in the owner points. I did call him shrewd.

Anyway, to sort of confirm my thoughts about the upcoming year in NASCAR I came across this article over at John Daly’s blog about what DW had to say off camera about the number of cars coming out to each race this year. Looks like DW has the same opinion I do. Don’t bother going to the youtube link either it has been ‘removed’.


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Something I Never Did Understand

December 20, 2008 By Leave a Comment

As a former soccer player, it always baffled me how defenders used to stop playing and raise their arms calling for an offside.

Play until there’s a whistle. Don’t stop. It could cost you a goal and often it did.

It’s one thing to have hacks do it, but to see it in major professional leagues and tournaments is even more annoying and frustrating.

Shouldn’t they know better?


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Stats Corner: World Cup

December 13, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Yeah, I know. It’s football, hockey and basketball season. But soccer popped into my mind.

Ever wonder what the goals for and against were for World Cup finalists?

Not really? Same here.

Meh.

Here we go: There have been 69 goals in total scored in a World Cup final. 45 come from four countries:

Brazil – seven finals: 15-9
Germany – seven finals: 11-15
Italy – six finals: 11-6
Argentina – four finals: 8-8

Interesting that Italy has an equal amount of goals (1.8 goals per game) to Germany (1.6) with one less final to its name. Not surprisingly, Brazil manages 2.1 goals per game. Again, no shock here, Italy has the best goals against figure allowing just one goal per game. Germany’s defense has permitted 2.1 goals per game (what’s the German equivalent of Swiss cheese?) followed by Argentina with 2.0.

The ratios look like this:

Brazil: 2.1 – 1.3
Italy 1.8-1.0
Argentina 2.0 -2.0
Germany 1.6 – 2.1

As for France, in two appearances, four Gaullic goals were scored against one foreign. This translates into a 2.0- .05.

Want to continue? Ok, let’s consider one more champion with at least two appearances: Uruguay. The once prolific Uruguayans scored six goals and allowed three in two finals. A ratio of 3.0-1.5.

Look for more stats in the other three sports in the future.

Bye-bye.


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Jimmie Johnson Graces SI Cover

November 19, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Bob Ellis

sicover 112408 jimmiejohnson1 2 Jimmie Johnson Graces SI Cover

Look mom, no hands!

Much to my surprise the powers that be over at Sports Illustrated have emailed me confirming that Jimmie will indeed be on their upcoming November 24th cover entitled “NASCAR COOL”. The email included the picture of the cover and the complete Lars Anderson story of Jimmie’s record tying 3rd straight Championship. As a NASCAR fan I appreciate the fact that Jimmie is finally getting his due – he deserves it. Thanks SI.

I don’t know if I have permission to do this but I’m going to put the cover up on my site for you to look at, but the Lars Anderson story you’ll have to get from the newsstand or si.com when it comes out – it is a good read by the way and I recommend you read it even if you are not a Jimmie fan because you just might be more of one when you’re done.

Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated (with thanks).

NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog Has Been Ranked The 7th Most Influential Nascar Blog By Sports Media Challenge As Seen On Their Sports Blogs Index™ Top 10 NASCAR Blogs.


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Patrick Carpentier Cut Loose

October 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Bob Ellis

Two things caught my eye tonight while I was web-crawling the usual NASCAR related haunts:

aj allmendinger Patrick Carpentier Cut Loose1) NASCAR.com is reporting that ARMY will indeed be pulling its sponsorship from DEI. This is really nothing new, but here is the twist; they are moving to Stewart-Haas Racing to sponsor Ryan Newman in the #39 car.

Hmm … interesting.

2) AJ “The Dinger” Allmendinger is going to drive the last 5 races in GEM’s #10 car, with Mike Wallace handling the duties this weekend at Charlotte as AJ has already committed to drive MWR’s 00 car this week.

This leaves Patrick Carpentier high and dry for the remainder of the year. He was already out at the end of this season anyway because Reed Sorenson was going to be taking over the 10 car next year.

NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog Has Been Ranked The 7th Most Influential Nascar Blog By Sports Media Challenge As Seen On Their Sports Blogs Index™ Top 10 NASCAR Blogs.


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Paul Newman Loved Racing

September 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Bob Ellispaul+newman+1 Paul Newman Loved Racing
paul+newman+2 Paul Newman Loved Racing
pau+newman+3 Paul Newman Loved Racing
paul+newman+3 Paul Newman Loved Racing
paul+newman+5 Paul Newman Loved Racing
Photo Credits:
Paul in fire suit and racing #80 Corvette – Michael Brochstein
Paul with Indy Team – don’t know, do you?


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Should NASCAR Use Rain Tires For Their Tracks?

August 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Bob Ellis

There has been somewhat of a debate in the media and over the web about using rain tires in NASCAR all of the time.

Should they or shouldn’t they?

They shouldn’t.

They can use them on their lower speed tracks like Martinsville (provided it drained properly), but to use them at Daytona, Talledaga, etc. is nuts.

Imagine headed into trurns 3 and 4 at Daytona doing 196 mph on rain tires?
Rain+Tire+Montreal+2008 Should NASCAR Use Rain Tires For Their Tracks?
You wouldn’t even leave a good looking corpse.

End of debate.

NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog Has Been Ranked The 7th Most Influential Nascar Blog By Sports Media Challenge As Seen On Their Sports Blogs Index™ Top 10 NASCAR Blogs.


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Montreal’s Monstrous Moisture Madness

August 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Bob Ellis

Well, I really enjoyed the Montreal race again this year. I know it didn’t run the full length, but it was pretty cool to watch those cars go around the track in the rain and on Goodyear Racing Rain Tires.Ron+Fellows+Montreal+2008 Montreals Monstrous Moisture Madness

I noticed that not all of the cars had the massive, and somewhat ineffective, wiper blade either.

It would have been interesting to see how the race would have turned out if the track drained better than it did.Ron+Fellows+Montreal+2008+Trophey Montreals Monstrous Moisture Madness

If NASCAR wants to continue to race in the rain in the future at their lower speed venues I think that would be awesome, but they would have to get through some technology issues first, like having wiper blades on the cars that actually work. But if they have wipers on the DP cars in the Rolex Series I’m sure NASCAR can find a way to get wiper blades to work on their cars too. Where there is a will there is a way as the saying goes.

They would also need some sort of vent or fan for the front and back window so they don’t fog up too much and block the driver’s view.

All and all I was pleased with the race (except that they still had to shorten it, but oh well).

I was also pleased with Andrew Ranger’s performance in the NCTS race prior to the Villeneuve+Ranger+Carpentier+2008+Montreal Montreals Monstrous Moisture MadnessNationwide race, as well as during the Nationwide event. Good for him. No telling how he would have done if he were allowed to go the full distance.

Another thing that pleased me about the Nationwide race was Ron Fellows – not because he won, but because he was in a JR Motorports car.

Why is this pleasing to me you ask? Because Ron Fellows got screwed when Dale Earnhardt Sr died.

Let me explain.

The week before Dale Sr died he competed in the 24hrs of Daytona in a Corvette Andrew+Ranger+Montreal+2008 Montreals Monstrous Moisture Madnesswith his son and two other drivers, while Ron Fellows was in the sister Corvette with several other drivers.

Dale and Ron got to know each other and they hit it off. Dale Sr then promised Fellows that whenever NASCAR Cup was at a road race that he would make sure Ron was in a DEI car for each and every event.

A handshake deal between the two was then struck, with paperwork to follow later.

But Dale died the next week before any paperwork had been done, and DEI did not honour Dale’s Andrew+Ranger+Montreal+2008+NCTS Montreals Monstrous Moisture Madnesshandshake agreement with Ron.

Now that Jr is out on his own, away from the grasp of DEI, it is nice to see him step up and give Ron a ride – just like his Daddy promised. It isn’t Cup but at least he is trying to pay the debt.

My hat is off to Dale Earnhardt Jr. for doing this for Ron. Kudos!

Andrew Ranger 22 car Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images for NASCAR
Villeneuve, Ranger, & Carpentier AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz

NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog Has Been Ranked The 7th Most Influential Nascar Blog By Sports Media Challenge As Seen On Their Sports Blogs Index™ Top 10 NASCAR Blogs.


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Great Storylines as Nascar Takes a Break

July 20, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Bob Ellis

We just passed the halfway point in the NASCAR Sprint Cup season, and we are heading into an off-weekend, as the teams gear up for their next race at the Indianapolis Speedway.

So, instead of looking at the upcoming race this week, let’s take a look at some of the stories that were generated in the first half of the season.

Before I jump into the two biggest stories involving Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart, both from Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), let me briefly touch on two other interesting stories that have emerged this year as well.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. moved from his late father’s race team (DEI) at the end of last season, where he was winless and finished well out the top 10 in points, to Hendrick Motorsports. He is currently second in points with one win.

Dale Jr. didn’t like the way DEI was being run by his step-mom, and when she refused to hand over controlling interest to him so he could run it the way he thought it should be run, he left. I think he has quietly proven his point so far this season, without coming out and saying: “I told you so.”

Another hot topic this year is the fact that the new race car is being run for the full schedule and NASCAR is strictly enforcing a zero tolerance policy with it. Even Tony Stewart says the new car “is the biggest change (in NASCAR) since I’ve been part of the series in the last 10 years.”

NASCAR has confiscated several cars, has handed out huge fines, point deductions and suspensions for anything about the car that does not meet its specifications.

NASCAR has even changed the rules for wheelbase measurements to stop teams trying to manipulate the car better in the corners by altering the wheelbase on each side of the car.
Now on to the two bigger stories developing in NASCAR: Kyle Busch’s dominance and Tony Stewart’s leaving of JGR.
Kyle Busch has been on a tear this year. He has won seven Sprint Cup races, five Nationwide Series races (four of those in JGR cars), two Craftsman Truck Series races, and has established himself as the top contender to win the Sprint Cup this year.

What is even more impressive is that this is his first year at JGR, and this is the first year that JGR is racing with Toyotas. I would imagine that the powers that be at Toyota are quite happy right about now.

I don’t expect Busch to disappear in the second half of the season, but I do expect him to win fewer races, as the other more competitive teams get a better handle on the new car. Look for him to be a contender for the Sprint Cup though.

I can’t see him finishing any less than third this year.

The other story that has grabbed headlines has been Tony Stewart’s departure from JGR, to become part owner and driver for the new Stewart-Haas Racing team.

There has been a lot of talk on the Internet and in traditional media that this might not be the best move for Stewart to make. The team he has become aligned with has not done better than one top five finish in the past several years.

Well I’m going to tell you this is a deal that Stewart could not turn down and he will make it work.

He was offered 50 per cent of the team just to come over, with no money out of his pocket. The team also has the only treadmill wind tunnel in North America, and the team is supported by Hendrick Motorsports — the same team that Dale Jr. is driving for this year.

“I really feel like when you look at this program, we have support with Hendrick engines, Hendrick chassis, and Hendrick technical support,” Stewart was quoted last week on NASCAR.com. “So I feel we have the variables in place to go out and be competitive right away.”

You can’t argue with that, although I think it’ll take a little longer than Stewart suggests before the team becomes truly competitive. But they will get there.

Enjoy the weekend and if you are looking to get your racing fix, then try the Rolex Sports Car Series, which is racing this Sunday in Birmingham, Alabama.

Here is the link to this article at thespec.com

NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog Has Been Ranked The 7th Most Influential Nascar Blog By Sports Media Challenge As Seen On Their Sports Blogs Index™ Top 10 NASCAR Blogs.


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