Thursday October 28th "What If" Question

To some NASCAR fans the best racing of the year come at the restrictor plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega because anything can happen. Side-by-side, row-after-row puts 43 drivers on the edge and fans on the edge of their seats for almost four hours. Just when you think you know what's going to happen the checkered flag flies and some are left looking for a replay.

If a driver can escape "The Big One" it all comes down to making the right moves at the right time. For many years it was Dale Earnhardt Sr., who stated he could see the air, making all the right moves and dominating plate races. Upon his death his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. picked up where dad left off.

Entering the 2006 season, Earnhardt Jr. had won seven restrictor plate races, two at Daytona and five at Talladega which included four wins in a row. He was also dominate in the Nationwide Series and had six wins on plate tracks which has been improved to seven with a win at Daytona in July of 2010.

However, back in 2006 Earnhardt Jr. was looking for another victory at Talladega and a big points days in the Chase for the championship. Leading on the last lap he was spun out when third place Brian Vickers performed an ill-fated bump to teammate and second place Jimmie Johnson. Both Earnhardt Jr. and Johnson went spinning and Vickers won his first career race.

Having the win taken away that day has keep Earnhardt Jr. winless at plate tracks in the Sprint Cup Series since 2004.

But ...

What if Brian Vickers didn't wreck Jimmie Johnson and Dale Jr. at Talladega in 2006 on the last lap. Who would have won?

@RedChevy14 Johnson. had the momentum and a teammate behind him. vickers couldn't have made a move.

@Talon64 Jimmie, he was making the move on Dale Jr. and with Vickers help would've taken his 3rd RP win of the season

@dustincary Dale Jr of course! ;)

@hankkershell Jimmie, I remember that race real well

@lydiascats Dale Jr!!! I'm not a Jr fan but I think he would've won!!

@mwoodruff8829 If Brian Vickers had not wreck Jimmie and Jr I believe Jimmie would won since Brian was pushing his teammate to pass him.

@smokinace88 Junior of course because Junior has that drive at Talladega that just makes him really feared out there

@rconboy1964 Derick Cope?

@hotdog3388 gotta say that Jimmie would have won the race, he had already made a move to the inside of Jr before Vickers hit him so he gets by Jr with Vickers finishing 2nd.

@StrokerAce90 Upon close review & analysis of the youtube video replays, Its unanimous between Lugs Harvey & myself that JJ would have won.

Wednesday, October 27th "What If" Question

Racing at Martinsville doesn't bring to mind the concerns of aerodynamics. The paperclip in Virginia is hard on both equipment and drivers because at the end of the day 43 cars will look like they just met Mike Tyson. Bent bumpers and torn fenders make racing at Martinsville fun, a driver can abuse their car yet still know they'll be in contention at the end.

This past weekend in the TUMS Fast Relief 500 it was Mark Martin who learned that lesson. Earlier on Martin was backwards into the Martinsville wall which crushed his back bumper and spoiler. The No. 5 team did their best to repair the damage and sent Martin back out without a back bumper and his spoiler now sitting much higher than it normally does.

The result was speed. Over the final few laps Martin gained 16 positions and finished second to race winner Denny Hamlin. It was his best finish of the 2010 season. It was unexpected for Martin after saying his brakes were failing early in the race, then spinning and losing a lap, but it was still fun.

But ...

What if Mark Martin didn't wreck on Sunday at Martinsville, pushing his spoiler higher into the air. Would he still have finished second?

@kartracer3886 No clue. But isnt it weird that when u wreck the COT sometimes it gets better lol.

@mbauerherzog No, I think the redirection of air from how his car was gave him more speed than if it would have been like the others.

@MisanAkuya Maybe. He got an advantage no doubt but it's Mark Martin he's one if the best. I meant is not

@14Patti14 probably not. but what can you do? that's the nature of the beast.

@Spacie_Stacie he would have won, we all know this!

@EdBoundy NO

@StrokerAce90 Wow, thats a good one! Lugs Harvey says Yes! Mark Martin was on a mission while them Nascar Chasers were driving defensively.

@dougthethird Nope. Not even close.

@Racergirl83 He is a good driver and yes I still think he would have came in second. He had a good car and he was having fun.

@NancyatStudioN No, it gave him an advantage BUT it wasn't illegal b/c he & his team didn't do it

Thursday, October 21st "What If" Question

To take tires or not to take tires, that is often the question that crew chiefs in the NASCAR world face. Last Friday night in the Nationwide race at Charlotte that's what ended up determining the winner of the event.

Kyle Busch was doing what he does best, dominating, and looked to be on his way to his 13th win of the 2010 season. As the race drew to a close Busch brought his No. 18 Toyota down pit road for four fresh tires, which were expected to keep him as fast, if not make him faster than what he was already blistering the track with.

Point leader Brad Keselowski didn't take tires and ended up beating Busch to the checkered flag. It was one of the rare occasions where four old tires beat four fresh tires. Busch was locked out of victory lane, which would happen the next night as well in the Sprint Cup Series. Sometimes the best car just doesn't win and Busch was the driver experiencing that defeat in Charlotte.

But ...

What if Brad Keselowski & Kyle Busch pitted for tires on same lap (having equal tires instead of BK on older). Would Keselowski still won?

@cody_rose HAHAHA Kyle Busch and Brad K matched evenly, KB wins hands down, no contest. Only person who beats Kyle Busch is Kyle Busch

@Timedwar Yes brad is just that much better

@smokinace88 Yes I Think Brad Keselowski had the best car after all is said and done

@StrokerAce90 I would say yes, BK still would have won.

Monday, October 18th "What If" Question

Over the last few weeks drivers have been giving the highlight reels something to feast on when saying that NASCAR was purposely throwing debris cautions that were costing them the race. Clint Bowyer was the latest to do at California when he was pulling away in the closing laps before the caution came out, which led to Tony Stewart getting the victory.

NASCAR fans know this is nothing new, as Denny Hamlin and a few others stated the same thing numerous times earlier this season. Hamlin was the most vocal and was later fine for other comments he made about what was taking place in NASCAR.

Saturday night in Charlotte it was his teammate Kyle Busch that was hot under the collar. Busch dominate the Bank of America 500 and was well in control as the race wound down. That was until once again the caution came out for what Busch said was no reason. Jamie McMurray shot past Busch on the restart and won the race, Busch finished second.

Afterwards Busch said that it was the second night in a row that the best car didn't win. He had also dominating the Nationwide Series race on Friday before losing in the end to Brad Keselowski. Busch said there was no words to describe the disappointment of continuing to come up short at Charlotte in the Sprint Cup Series.

But ...

What if the last caution did not come out Saturday? Would Kyle Busch have held off hard charging Jamie McMurray & Jimmie Johnson?

@mbauerherzog No, I think JMac would have won it either way. Kyle would have still held off JJ though.

@shanbedd I say maybe 18 would still have won, clean air yes, he would have won!

@chrisjohnson022 No he would not have won

@nascar_oz I think he could have

@Ks29Fan probably not...

@Ol_Man_Winter No way. Jamie was catching him 4 10ths a lap before last restart. Awesome seeing Jamie Mac beat restart king on a restart tho

@dhammis Nope. Jmac had the faster car during the last run. #NASCAR

@WilliamCheerboy This would happen: Danica Patrick comes out of the stands, hi-jack Mark Martins car & drive to front to win the race!

Wednesday, October 13th "What If" Question

Tracks like the Kansas Speedway and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California are used to seeing Roush Fenway Racing drivers in victory lane. Two weeks ago Greg Biffle kept up his end of the bargain when he took the checkered flag at Kansas for his second win of the 2010 season.

The win was significant not only for the fact that Ford would be giving his No. 16 team an extra $100,000 for winning a Chase race, but earning the maximum amount of points helped keep Biffle in the championship hunt. Last weekend in California it looked like RFR was picking right up where they left off in Kansas as Biffle, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth each had contending cars for the Pepsi Max 400.

Then one by one they each went up in smoke ... literally. Biffle was the first to go on lap 40. Edwards came next at lap 60 when his car was pushed to the garage. He later returned but 14 laps down. Kenseth remained on track and up front, swapping the lead with numerous drivers over the course of the event.

Then over the final 10 laps his engine started to smoke and he limped to the finish line. Now the three drivers sit outside the top five in points, Edwards over 100 markers out of first and Biffle and Kenseth over 200 out. It's not impossible but it'll be a longshot for them to get back in title contender.

But ...

What if Greg Biffle's engine did not go 'boom' on Sunday at California. Would he have ended up being a factor for the championship?

@Talon64 He probably would've finished top 5, and would still be within 100 points of the lead. Definitely a factor.

@MisanAkuya He would have snagged a top ten maybe top five, run well at Texas and Homestead but ultimately not be a factor

@Spacie_Stacie I think he really would have been ending up being a factor, you never know what will happen this weekend!

@Ol_Man_Winter Didn't watch Cup race Sun., just going on hearing about it. I say no, JJ & Harvick will be factors, Gordon & Hamlin will drop

Tuesday, October 5th "What If'" Question

Entering the Kansas Speedway the top three in the Chase standings were separated by less than 100 points. Denny Hamlin led Jimmie Johnson and teammate Kyle Busch to the Midwest were things were bound to get interesting and where the point lead was bound to change.

For Busch he's never had the success at Kansas he's hoped for but the 2010 Chase was already shaping up to be different for the No. 18 M&M's Toyota Camry. As Johnson and Hamlin struggled early in the race, running outside the top 10, Busch was putting a solid performance in as he ran inside the top 10.

The point standings showed that Busch would have been five markers out of first had he continued running where he was. And if Hamlin and Johnson continued to slide back, he may have taken the point lead.

That all changed in a instant however. After feeling that Busch intentionally spun him out early in the race, David Reutimann decided that he had enough with Busch and reached his boiling point. After returning to the track Reutimann found himself running behind Busch and made his move.

Coming off turn two Reutimann ran into the side of Busch, spinning himself out and severely damaging the No. 18. Instead of finishing in the top 10, Busch had to settle for a 21st place finish and slid out of the top 10 in points.

But ...

What if David Reutimann did not retaliate against @KyleBusch on Sunday, would Busch have left Kansas as the point leader?

@Tammie_M3ENF l I hope not. I find Kyle aggressive and horrible. He and that girlfriend are the posh & becks of America... Fake!

@Ol_Man_Winter I say no. Kyle's to much of a hot head, he would've caused himself more trouble if he got away with it & hurt his points.

@RedChevy14 No he wouldn't. He was 10 back of Johnson after Dover, he wouldn't have finished first or second even without Reutimann.

@TheLeadLap Doubt it... he started 19th, and has around a 20th place avg finish in the COT there. He wouldn't have finished well enough.

Wednesday September 29th "What If" Question

It's dominated the news the last two weeks and won't be completely resolved until Tuesday of next week. Fans, drivers and media alike can't stop talking about it and it was only natural to throw it out on Twitter to get an unofficial response from NASCAR fans.

After winning the first race of the 2010 Chase at New Hampshire, which was his first win of the season, Clint Bowyer's car was found to be illegal. After passing inspection at the racetrack, NASCAR brought the winning car back to their research and development center for further evaluation. Regardless of where Bowyer finished at NH, it was going to happen since a week before his No. 33 team had been warned by NASCAR that they were getting close to the crossing the line.

NASCAR handed down a penalty of 150 driver/owner points, $150,000 from crew chief Shane Wilson and a six week suspension to Wilson and car chief Chad Haney. The penalty took Bowyer from second in points to 12th, over 100 points behind the leader. Team owner Richard Childress called for an appeal of the penalty saying his team didn't cheat and the car was knocked out of proportion by the tow truck that pushed Bowyer to victory lane after the win.

Before the appeal could be heard the second Chase race was run at Dover where Bowyer finished 25th and fell over 200 points behind in the championship, coming ever so close to eliminating himself from contention. Earlier this week NASCAR heard the appeal and denied overturning. While Childress said he'll further appeal to the commissioner, Bowyer said his title hopes are over and it's not worth fighting anymore.

But ...

What if Clint Bowyer's penalty was overturned. Would he still be able to win the championship? (Would be 85 points behind Hamlin)

@SummerDreyer Um... no. LOL just a little brutal honesty. Good driver but wouldn't compete with the likes of Hamlin, Johnson, etc.

@Talon64 Clint would have as much of a chance as any of the RCR guys, which is only a small chance.

@TERRIFICSTWEETS Nope

@mbauerherzog I think it would put him back in the chase and if he stayed solid, he could potentially win.

@nascarjaj I dont think so, because he hasnt been as strong as the 11 has all year

@Ol_Man_Winter No. JJ would still win even if Clint Bowyer's penalty was overturned.