NASCAR Fans - Silly Season Rumors and Facts (1/18 today's practice speeds page3)

[JimB.]

I'm also hoping to see Mikey Waltrip have a good season.

Me too. I'va always liked his laid back demeanor. I think he's a good guy.

I've also read that if he does not have a top 10 finish this year he may lose his ride.........

 

[ToriLammy]

From Jayski.com:

Dale Jr. gets a jet: Dale Earnhardt Jr. won't have to bum a plane ride from his racing pals anymore. Notoriously frugal, Earnhardt has joined the ranks of drivers with his own plane, having purchased a Lear 60 twin-engine jet. ``I've been trying to avoid getting a plane because it's really expensive, but we got to looking at them and talking about it and it seemed like there were a couple of places where we got stuck and hung up,'' Earnhardt said Wednesday. ``With your own plane you don't have to wait on everybody to show up to take off.'' Earnhardt always had the option of riding on the Dale Earnhardt Inc. company plane, but because that plane transported team members for both his car and teammate Michael Waltrip, he would have to leave earlier and stay longer. Having his own jet will allow Earnhardt to spend at least another week at home over the course of the season. Last summer, while suffering with burns suffered in a sports car crash in Sonoma, Calif., Earnhardt accepted plane or helicopter rides from some of his driver friends, including Dale Jarrett and Tony Stewart. The Lear 60 seats six passengers comfortably, plus two pilots, and travels at about 520 mph. Earnhardt wouldn't give specifics on his purchase but said they cost between $5 1/2 million and $8 1/2 million. And that doesn't include the cost of pilots and fuel.(Tampa Tribune)(1-13-2005)

 

[WendyZ]

Ouch! Jr. finally spent some of his $$$. Not like he can't afford it! It's becoming a must for teams with the schedule NASCAR puts out.
Can't wait for the season to start....

 

[MickiMouth]

I didn't know Jr. is notoriously frugal, that's interesting. I think it was definitely a good purchase. Hope he has good luck with it.

 

[2bemarried]

Wow...he finally bought a plane. I can see him being very frugal since he still lives in a house that cost 90K.

 

[ToriLammy]

New Qualifying procedure - I think I'm going to need to see it in action to understand. I don't think it will eliminate the need to have Spares in our game but we'll see once the season really starts From Jayski.com

New Procedure for Determining Race Line-Ups - No more provisionals [accept the champ]: NASCAR will institute a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series effective with the 2005 season, NASCAR officials announced today. NASCAR has revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series owner championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify]. The remaining seven positions will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion who participated as a driver during their 2004 season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline. If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results. Through the first five races of the season for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, the top 35 in the NNCS of the 2004 owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ 2005 Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)
so...... the way it reads, the top 42 are lined up by speeds ran. If any of the drivers/teams in the top 35 in owners points are not in, then they would start 42nd...and so on if more are not in the top 42. So someone not in the top 35 can still win the pole. NO WORD on how the Daytona 500 lineup will be set and it is not mentioned in this PR. Last year, the first 2 spots were filled on qualifying day by the two fastest drivers, then 3-30 were filled by Twin 125 [now the Gatorade Duel - 150's], then eight spots by the fastest remining drivers, four using provisionals based on 2003 owners standings, and a champions provisional, which if not used, went to the next team in onners points not in the race.(1-13-2005)
BASICALLY How it Works [how I understand it]:
The drivers/team qualify for the race
the top 42 drivers/teams are lined up based on qualifying speed
any drivers/teams in the top 35 in Owners Points not in at that point, will be placed in spots 42, 41, etc depending on how many there are.
example: #8-Earnhardt Jr. and #24-Gordon qualify outside the 42 spots, Gordon would presently start 41st [his team was 3rd in 2004 owners points] and Earnhardt Jr. would start 42nd [his team was 5th in 2004 owners points], the drivers 41st or 42nd would be bumped.
spot 43 is filled by either a past series champ or the next fastest team/driver.(1-14-2005)

 

[ToriLammy]

Look has a fragrance deal (no it's not Jr - he already has one ) http://www.elizabetharden.com/Halston/Halston_main.html

And they'll be running sweepstakes (my kind of talk) from Feb 05 to Aug 05 for a chance to go to the 2006 Daytona 500 and meet the driver

 

[MickiMouth]

OUCH, that pics so hot it burns.

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

Yes, Jr is single, DEI has Michael Andretti, Jr., Michael Waltrip, Martin Truex, Jr., and Paul Menard driving this year; it will rock! As for the pit crew changes, let's be positive here and hope for the best and to see Jr with the Cup in hand! :jumping4:

 

[ToriLammy]

You want hot

 

[dturner]

You want hot

Just wanted to say love your timer on when the season starts!!

Nice picture even though I'm NOT a Jeff Gordon fan, DS (8) is though and it's tough buying him Jeff Gordon stuff but like a good Mom I do it.

GO JUNIOR!!!!!!!!! (I know it's not a race car, LOL!)

 

[Lanshark]

Hey Tori,

What drivers have lost their rides? I don't think Ward Burton or Ricky Craven have a ride yet?

 

[ToriLammy]

Ward doesn't have a ride at all. Craven and Gaughan are both driving Craftsman Trucks this year. So that's it for drivers who had full time rides last year and don't have one this year at least as far and I can tell. Hopefully Ward will find something soon, can't imagine not hearing him at all this year

 

[MickiMouth]

Yeah, I really hope Ward gets a ride. It would of been so cool if he had replaced Robby Gordon. Hopefully something will come along.

 

[ToriLammy]

It would have been cool if Ward replaced Robby but Dave Blaney already got that job and well I like Dave Blaney, he's been looking for a decent ride for a couple of years now so...I hope he and Jack Daniels 07 do well for RCR

Don't forget folks the 2nd half of Daytona testing starts tomorrow so Speed News will have nightly updates on the Speed Channel at 7PM ET.

 

[ToriLammy]

Looks like MB2 racing has figured something out at Daytona, last week Said was 2nd and 3rd and this week Riggs and Nemecheck are leading the pack. Kerry Earnhardt is testing for Kevin Harvick can't remember the reason but lots of seat time for him both last week and this week.

Morning:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Results of Tuesday morning's NASCAR Nextel Cup single car testing at Daytona International Speedway:

1. Scott Riggs, No. 10 Chevrolet, 48.620 seconds, 185.109 mph
2. Joe Nemechek, No. 01 Chevrolet, 48.697, 184.816
3. Jeff Green, No. 43 Dodge, 48.801, 184.422
4. Mark Martin, No. 6 Ford, 48.923, 183.963
5. Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet, 48.930, 183.936
6. Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Dodge, 48.934, 183.921
7. Bobby Labonte, No. 18 Chevrolet, 48.956, 183.839
8. Mike Wallace, No. 4 Chevrolet, 48.987, 183.722
9. Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Ford, 49.070, 183.411
10. Martin Truex Jr., No. 1 Chevrolet, 49.097, 183.311
11. Eric McClure, No. 73 Chevrolet, 49.245, 182.760
12. Dave Blaney, No. 07 Chevrolet, 49.349, 182.375
13. Brian Vickers, No. 25 Chevrolet, 49.421, 182.109
14. David Stremme, No. 39 Dodge, 49.433, 182.065
15. Derrike Cope, No. 55 Chevrolet, 49.567, 181.572
16. Scott Wimmer, No. 22 Dodge, 49.587, 181.499
17. Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Dodge, 49.616, 181.393
18. Kerry Earnhardt, No. 29 Chevrolet, 49.638, 181.313
19. Robby Gordon, No. 7 Chevrolet, 49.693, 181.112
20. John Andretti, No. 14 Ford, 49.715, 181.032
21. Bobby Hamilton Jr., No. 32 Chevrolet, 49.833, 180.603
22. Johnny Sauter, No. 09 Dodge, 49.863, 180.495
23. Jeff Burton, No. 31 Chevrolet, 50.008, 179.971
24. Kevin Lepage, No. 37 Chevrolet, NT, NS
25. Rusty Wallace, No. 2 Dodge, NT, NS
26. Kirk Shelmerdine, No. 27 Ford, NT, N

Afternoon:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Results of Tuesday afternoon's NASCAR Nextel Cup single car testing at Daytona International Speedway:

1. Joe Nemechek, No. 01 Chevrolet, 48.738 seconds, 184.661 mph
2. Scott Riggs, No. 10 Chevrolet, 48.742, 184.646
3. Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet, 48.844, 184.260
4. Jeff Green, No. 43 Dodge, 48.847, 184.249
5. Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Dodge, 48.988, 183.718
6. Mark Martin, No. 6 Ford, 49.023, 183.547
7. Mike Wallace, No. 4 Chevrolet, 49.031, 183.557
8. Eric McClure, No. 73 Chevrolet, 49.108, 183.270
9. Bobby Labonte, No. 18 Chevrolet, 49.139, 183.154
10. Dave Blaney, No. 07 Chevrolet, 49.145, 183.132
11. Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Ford, 49.155, 183.094
12. Rusty Wallace, No. 2 Dodge, 49.283, 182.619
13. Johnny Sauter, No. 09 Dodge, 49.329, 182.448
14. Kerry Earnhardt, No. 29 Chevrolet, 49.338, 182.415
15. John Andretti, No. 14 Ford, 49.343, 182.397
16. Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Dodge, 49.345, 182.389
17. Scott Wimmer, No. 22 Dodge, 49.394, 182.208
18. Martin Truex Jr., No. 1 Chevrolet, 49.425, 182.094
19. Bobby Hamilton Jr., No. 32 Chevrolet, 49.438, 182.046
20. David Stremme, No. 39 Dodge, 49.440, 182.039
21. Derrike Cope, No. 55 Chevrolet, 49.454, 181.987
22. Brian Vickers, No. 25 Chevrolet, 49.528, 181.715
23. Robby Gordon, No. 7 Chevrolet, 49.818, 180.658
24. Jeff Burton, No. 31 Chevrolet, 49.885, 180.415
25. Hermie Sadler, No. 66 Ford, 49.902, 180.353
26. Kevin Lepage, No. 37 Dodge, 49.934, 180.238
27. Kirk Shelmerdine, No. 27 Ford, 50.369, 178.681

 

[thelittlemermaid]

I also can't wait for the new season to start, going through Jr withdrawl!! LOL!!!

Sure hope the changes in DEI work out for the best!! Would love to see Jr and his crew holding the 2005 NEXTEL cup! Even better, I would love to be sitting in the seat next to him on stage. {dreaming there!!! LOL!!!}

Will Feb ever get here!!!!

 

[Lanshark]

Is nascar.com the best place to find the "official" pit crew caps? I'd like to find one of Jeff's for DH but it's had to tell sometimes which one they are going to start the year with.

 

[MickiMouth]

http://store.yahoo.com/hendrickmotorsports/jeffgordon.html

Hi Marcie. This seems to be the only hat on the Hendrick Motorsports website. So you might have better luck on NASCAR.com.

 

[Lanshark]

Thanks Micki

I think it is the blue and red one on www.nascar.com but I am alittle surprised at how plain it is. Then again I was alittle surprised at the grey ones towards the end of the year so that doesn't mean anything.