Wednesday, December 28th 'What If' Question

Following his announcement of joining Phoenix Racing with James Finch in 2012 in the Sprint Cup Series came the rumor that Kurt Busch would also be running for brother Kyle's Nationwide Series team, Kyle Busch Motorsports. The eye raiser of the rumor was that Busch would be running for points in the NNS and not in Cup with Phoenix Racing, the focus there instead being on winning races.

After leaving Penske following a year that Busch would rather forget: going through a divorce, only winning two races, faltering in the Chase and constantly at odds with his team and their performance, Busch says he's ready to work on his image and get back to having fun in the racecar. Maybe removing himself from the Cup Series and going back to the basics is what he meant.

The rumor is not all that far fetched. Just last week it was said that Kyle Busch would not be running in the Camping World Truck Series and should he run in the NNS it would be very limited. His Cup owner Joe Gibbs Racing and sponsor M&M's want to limit Busch's extra-curricular activities after he was involved in incident with Ron Hornaday at Texas last season. The hope of putting his focus solely on the Cup Series to pay off with a run at the championship.

Kyle's company though will still be running in both series and needs drivers. No better driver than your older brother, a proven winner and champion. And it certainly wouldn't hurt to have his experience behind the wheel when it comes to helping the team venture into the NNS for the first time, with 2012 being their inaugural season after running in the CWTS the last two years.

It puts the NNS title up for grabs since many drivers who battled for the championship in 2011 might not be back. Aric Almirola is rumored to be signing with Richard Petty Motorsports and going back to the Cup Series. Reed Sorenson still doesn't have a championship contending ride and Elliott Sadler will be working with a slightly new team as Richard Childress bought out Kevin Harvick Inc.

As for the champion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., he might not even be able to contend. Racing with a lack of sponsorship in 2011, that same issue might keep him sidelined in 2012. Stenhouse is still waiting to hear about his future as are the fans and NNS, his loss would be a loss for all. The 2012 plans of Stenhouse and Busch will be anxiously awaited over the next few weeks before testing in Daytona gets underway.

But ...

What if Kurt Busch does compete for points and runs for brother Kyle’s Nationwide Series team, does he become the preseason favorite? @NancyatStudioN YES. But I think Finch wants to go for title - whether likely or not

@Gman1439 yes......he would be my preseason favorite if that happened, but i hope it doesnt...

@Alex14_11 yes he would have to be! He wouldn't have much competition.

@MattEmbury That would not be a very popular move, come to think of it I don't think Kurt would do would be popular right now anyway.

@Fishnwhistle I wonder if Champions provisional would apply if he was not racing for Cup Championship.? #RulebookChallenged

@cruetten the easy answer is yes, but I don't remember Kurt driving the nns cars too often--might take some time to adjust. [Editor's note - Busch ran one NNS race in 2011, driving the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge at Watkins Glen. He sat on the pole and won the race. Busch has three career NNS wins in 12 starts.]

Monday, December 26th 'What If' Question

With Kurt Busch gone from Penske Racing and AJ Allmendinger gone from Richard Petty Motorsports, replacing Busch in the No. 22, the No. 43 previously driven by Allmendinger is up for grabs.

As of late last week the leading candidate for the position was Aric Almirola, the current driver of JR Motorsports No. 88 in the Nationwide Series. Almirola finished fourth in points last season after moving back to the NNS, he had been in the Cup Series, sharing a ride with Mark Martin at Dale Earnhardt Inc. back in 2008 before lack of sponsorship shut the team down.

Now with news that he could be headed back to the Cup Series his No. 88 becomes of the hottest seats available. JR Motorsports has helped put drivers like Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. on the NASCAR map. They contended for championships and won races as JRM has become one of the best driver development organizations in the NNS. Drivers are lining up to get their resume into team owner Dale Jr. for the 2012 season.

Those included might be Reed Sorenson, who lost his ride with Turner Motorsports midway through last season while he battled for the championship. Or even Cup drivers Brian Vickers, David Reutimann and David Ragan who have all lost their rides, might not mind racing for the sports most popular driver and winning races. A job is a job, regardless of the series.

Or will JRM again find a young talent who is waiting to get his shot? Drivers like Chase Eilliott and Darrell Wallace Jr. who are dominating in other divisions would love to get a jumpstart on their NASCAR careers.

No announcement has been made about the new driver of the No. 43 for RPM yet. Anything official would be announced after the New Year and with Almirola's name expected to be attached. He would get the nod over the aforementioned drivers of Ragan, Reutimann and Vickers, past Cup winners. They come with the Cup experience that many sponsors are after whereas Almirola has nothing but unpleasant Cup memories from his past. He'll be itching to erase those should get the chance, which Ragan, Reutimann and Vickers are hoping he doesn't.


But ...

What if Aric Almirola is announced as driver of the 43 for Petty, who should be next driver JR Motorsports gives a shot in the 88? #NASCAR

@cruetten I like Reed Sorenson, but my out-there pick is Reutimann

@chreister89 Would like to see @ColeWhitt get a chance at a good ride.

@HarpAmyStabler I think that JR Motorsports should give David Reutimann a shot for a second chance at his career.

@Race_Girl24_7 26 #givereutiaride

@HD388 hopin for Sorenson if the 88 opens up

@rcracer20 Reed Sorenson and Reutimann are good picks,but Cole Whitt has talent that needs to be expossed and JR can do it

@racinwithjason Matt DiBenedetto!!

@BONES6699 Ryan Truex... Or is he under contract with JGR?

Friday, December 23rd 'What If' Question

In what continues to be the most exciting and busiest NASCAR offseason yet, new rumors swirled on Friday that there's a possibility that Kyle Busch won't be running in the Camping World Truck Series and in very limited Nationwide Series races. That coming at the request of his Sprint Cup team owners Joe Gibbs Racing and sponsor M&M's.

The last time Busch raced in the lower divisions he was involved in an altercation with Ron Hornaday under caution in Texas. After the two made contact racing for the second position, Busch wrecked Hornaday purposely when the caution came out and then commented about having no remorse afterwards. NASCAR parked Busch for the remainder of the weekend and he didn't participate in the CWTS or NNS the final two weeks of the season and M&M's pulled their sponsorship from his Cup car the last two races of the season as well.

While there is no known reason for the request by JGR and M&M's it most likely has to do with Busch's past actions. In 2011 he won six races in the CWTS, moving his career total to 30, he won eight NNS races, career total now at 51, but in the Cup Series he won four times and has 23 careers wins. Busch continues to shine more in the lower divisions than in Cup, where he's still searching for his first championship.

There's also the long running debate that Busch has been apart of in whether Cup drivers should race in the lower divisions. In this case, M&M's might be thinking that it's time to focus solely on Cup, not just to minimize any potential controversy but to move closer to winning the championship. Drivers who run in CWTS and NNS race haven't transfered that success to the Cup Series, although Carl Edwards who does not run trucks but does run Nationwide, nearly won the Cup title this past season.

Whatever the reason may be to have Busch not run anymore races than necessary, it could be a blessing. More focus on Cup could turn into more success for the Las Vegas driver. Of course it will hurt those in the CWTS and NNS who rely on Busch for a job, the hope being that with Busch sidelined there will be other drivers to fill the seats and obligations. Older brother Kurt is rumored to be driving for KBM in the NNS in 2012.

At this point however, these are all just rumors. It's quite possible that Busch will be running in all three series, continuing to add up his win total and re-write the history books, he's currently the winningest driver in NNS history. And along the way he'll probably ruffle some more feathers and create some new rivals. Whatever the case may be, Busch will be one of the main storylines, again, come 2012.

But ...

What if rumors of @KyleBusch not running in Trucks & very limited Nationwide are true, will that pave way to his best year in Cup? #NASCAR

@scienceesl I really think it would. Personally I think he spends to much time in the other series to make a good run at cup

@NancyatStudioN What it will do is severely hurt KBM as a business and put even more #Nascar workers out of a job

@denver2u I doubt that, but it will def save lots of money in auto repair..for him and others...

@krisjohnson_sd Sponsors will dictate he runs in both – in some capacity. #NASCAR

Monday, December 19th 'What If' Question

Not even two hours after he won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship with Tony Stewart, crew chief Darian Grubb revealed that he had been informed weeks earlier that he would not be back in that position in 2012.

Whether he stayed with Stewart-Haas or moved on wasn't yet known but rumors quickly started. The biggest was that Grubb would stay would SHR in a management position and that Stewart would be reunited with Greg Zipadelli, who he worked with at Joe Gibbs Racing when he entered the sport in 1999 to his departure in 2008. The two were the longest running driver-crew chief combination up until Stewart left and they were one of the most successful.

They won two championships together, 2002 and 2005, and over 35 races. Every high and low that could be thrown there way was and they battled through it. The two have always been close, acknowledging it's almost like they're brothers they say. To some though, it seemed highly unlikely that Zipadelli was going to leave JGR and driver Joey Logano, at least there certainly wasn't any indication.

While the two were never very successful - winning only one race, never making the Chase and their best point finish being 16th in 2010 - Zipadelli had always denied the rumors thrown his way about his departure. He felt a loyalty to JGR, one reason he didn't initially leave with Stewart in 2008. Zipadelli always appeared off the table when deals were being made.

Except when Grubb was named crew chief for JGR driver Denny Hamlin did the odds look better. Perhaps it would be a trade, Zipadelli for Grubb. That's exactly what happened when it was announced that no, he wouldn't be Stewart's crew chief, that job going to former Kurt Busch crew chief Steve Addington, but Zipadelli would become SHR's competition direction. And just as an added bonus, he would be a part-time crew chief for the races that Danica Patrick ran, including the season opening Daytona 500.

The news is some of the biggest in an offseason where no organization is sitting still and enjoying the holidays. With Zipadelli and Stewart back together it's a great feeling for their fans. Long awaited too. They know each other, they know success and with the company attempting to back up their first championship in 2012, they have the right people in place to do so.

But ...

What if Joey Logano & Greg Zipadelli had had better success from 2009-2011, would Zippy still be leaving to head for Stewart-Haas? #NASCAR

@Spacie_Stacie I honestly do think so, Kelly, Zippy has young kids who he is missing a lot of their growing up, this way he will be around.

@NancyatStudioN Definitely - He'd have had to win Championship to even consider not rejoining Stewart

@rcracer20 with what has gone on with kyle,i would get away myself,plus beening able to CC for @DanicaPatrick #priceless:)

Beth Robinson Bunch (via Facebook) I Think So.

Sunday, December 18th 'What If' Question

It can't and never will be said that the brothers Busch, Kyle and Kurt, don't show enough emotion.

In fact, it's been their inability to not show emotion during certain situations that continually land them in hot water. Near the end of the 2011 season while fans and media were speculating whether Kyle would be keeping his ride at Joe Gibbs Racing following his actions in a Camping World Truck Series event in Texas, it was Kurt who became the big story. Just days after the season ending banquet in Las Vegas it was announced that Busch and Penske Racing had mutually agreed to go separate ways.

Busch would not be driving the No. 22 Shell Dodge any longer, leaving the organization that he joined in 2006. An organization that took him in after he left Roush under less than pleasant circumstances when he was arrested in late 2005 for suspicion of drunk driving and was cited for reckless driving. He won 16 races at Penske, contended for championships and helped put Dodge back at the top.

Now he's at the bottom, looking for a ride just a month before Speedweeks in Daytona. How Busch got to where he is can be because of a few different things that occurred in 2011. It was a far cry from where he's been the last few years when he was winning races in the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge and being the leader of Penske. This year though, he was left in the background of teammate Brad Keselowski's success.

Busch was constantly upset with his team, then again in the heat of the moment during races all drivers vent, but Busch seemed to always be a little more wound up than others.

He didn't have the success that he thought he would, coming out of the gate in Daytona by winning the first two non-point events of the year. Except he didn't win a points paying race until Sonoma in late June and scored his second win in the Chase at Dover. However, he never seriously contended for the championship, finishing 11th in the final standings.

Then of course, came what some are calling the final straw: Busch's candid camera moment in Homestead. After finding himself in the garage after just eight laps when he blew his transmission Busch went on an expletive filled rant on ESPN pit road Jerry Punch, who was attempted to get a live interview with Busch about the incident.

The moment was caught on a cell phone camera, then uploaded to YouTube and soon linked to social media sites where everyone suddenly got ahold of it. It spread like wildfire and Busch was left to apologize after it became a big viral hit. Soon thereafter it was announced that his crew chief, Steve Addington, had left the team to head to Stewart-Haas Racing. Shortly followed by the announcement that Busch was leaving as well.

But ...

What if Brad Keselowski hadn't been put in Kurt Busch No. 2 car then won more races than Busch & contended for the championship, would Busch still have been as miserable as he was this year, lost his cool so many times and ultimately his job at Penske? #NASCAR

@nuccionino I don't think the change would of mattered. If he is that jealous of a teammate, he shouldn't be in NASCAR. Go drag race.

@ARosser14 Yes because he's been a petulant, miserable little man for years now. And it was really the 2 team, just in Shell colors.

@cruetten I don't think it would've happened to Busch this year, but he was a time bomb waiting to go off--would've happened eventually

@HD388 I'd say Kurt would of still lost his job no matter what car he was driving, guy is a powderkeg when things aren't going his way & Penske would of gotten tired of him running off good Crew Chiefs & engineers

@31SpazCat15 trying to figure out why he lost his mind....I am going with Family Trait!!

@JanisRothermel U could say what would have happened if the last three races did not have 22 Team errors (not driver) & a Dega fluke. No ifs

Dustin Parks (via Facebook) Honestly, I think Kurt cost himself his job. He put down the team, plus the car, and the manufacturer. If he wanted to make things better, he'd say what was wrong more than ridicule. Busch cost himself the job. Remember, he won the Bud Shootout and then the Duel race to start the season, so it was a great start with the 22 car. It was AFTERWARD where the ridicule began.

William Hildebrand (via Facebook) It's all about the driver, not the car/team. Joey Logano is an excellent example to my point.

Monday, December 12th 'What If' Question

It'll be known as one of the worst championship hangovers in recent NASCAR memory.

Denny Hamlin won eight races in 2010 and came one race short of winning his first championship and dethroning Jimmie Johnson. Except it wasn't meant to be as Hamlin finished second and vowed to capitalize on missed chances heading into the 2011 season, feeling his team was in perfection position to get better and stronger.

It couldn't have been more of the opposite has Hamlin struggled in 2011. He only won one race and dominated the headlines for reasons like blown engines, bad races and making the Chase thanks to NASCAR's new wildcard format. The domination that he had unleashed in 2010 when appearing champion-like seemed nothing but a mirage this past season.

Confusion seemed to be the biggest theme. Confusion on why they were running so badly when they had great equipment. Confusion as to why they were catching all the bad breaks while teammate Kyle Busch was winning races and challenging for the point lead. And confusion as to why things were suddenly no longer gelling with the only team and crew chief that Hamlin had ever known since he entered the series in 2006.

Just days after the Sprint Cup Series awards banquet in Las Vegas crew chief Mike Ford was released by Joe Gibbs Racing. There would be no repeating 2011, not even a chance to get things right. Changes were being made and someone had to go. When the No. 11 FedEx team rolls into Daytona 2012 it will be with Darian Grubb atop the pit box, the man Hamlin watched lead Tony Stewart to his third Sprint Cup Series championship.

Hamlin and company were one of the many surprises in 2011, one that wasn't expected to happen. The way they performed in 2010 would have indicated they would have been more determined to come back this year ready to fight for the title again. Instead they experienced anything and everything that could have gone wrong. Ford's release was another surprise, considering the strong relationship that he and Hamlin are said to have, as well as the support they showed each other through the good and bad times.

Yet, in a sport where it's all about winning decisions have to made. The Virginia native wants to see a Sprint Cup trophy on his mantle in the very near future, not a sports psychologist. It'll only happen if he and Grubb have instant chemistry and don't have the 2012 season end up being a rebuilding year.

But ...

What if Denny Hamlin had won the 2010 title, followed by his 2011 struggles, would crew chief Mike Ford still have been released? #NASCAR

@Talon64 I'd say yes. Especially in a sport where the 2011 champ's CC was told he'd be gone at least 2 months prior to end of season!

@cruetten not at all, but he would've only been given 2012 to redeem himself.

@TrackDiva141811 No he wouldn't have because Denny and team would have had a totally different attitude. :)

@31SpazCat15 I think the change is 1 that Denny wanted last year regardless of what he has said..Im not opposed to change, change is good

Tuesday, November 29th 'What If' Question

Before the start of the 2011 NASCAR season a major rule change was implemented for all three of sports top series. Drivers had to check a box and pick which series they wanted to receive points in.

No more could they run for the championship in Truck and Nationwide if they wanted to earn points and run for the Sprint Cup title. Meaning drivers like Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski who traditionally double dip and who have won the last few NNS titles, wouldn't be eligible to in 2011. They could still compete in the series and win races but it wouldn't mean anything except they had fun.

On the other hand it meant that CWTS and NNS regulars were given their chance to shine. While they may not have racked up as many wins as they wanted because of the dippers they would be competing for something bigger. In CWTS drivers like James Buescher, Johnny Sauter and Austin Dillon shone as they battled for their first championship. In the end it was Dillon who became the youngest CWTS champion in history.

He won two races in 2011 while drivers not competing for CWTS points won 15 of the seasons 25 races. In the NNS it was more of the same as non-point drivers won 28 of the seasons 34 races. Yet it was drivers like Elliott Sadler and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. who earned much of the spotlight for the spectacular season each had in their own right. Stenhouse also won two races on his way to the title but could have had many more as he gave the Cup drivers a run for their money nearly every weekend.

Rating were up, racing was exciting and history was made in 2011. Fans couldn't have asked for much more as they seemed much more interested in the NNS and CWTS season to see new champions crowned. Of course they'll tell you that it got old watching the same drivers, Cup, winning many of the races but most seemed pleased with the preseason rule change.

But ...

What if #NASCAR had not instituted the 'pick a series rule', would fans still have been as drawn to the CWTS & NNS title battles this year?

@Talon64 Trucks would've been the same, but Carl would've run away with the NNS title so the new rule was a big help there.

@rustywings I don't think so...I give them kudos on that one. Who would have known who Ricky Stenhouse was this year, ya know?

@HD388 I think fans would of been less interested in the NNS & CWTS points battle if Cup guys were the ones battling out for the title over the regulars, hopefully next season Cup guys are limited to number of races they can race in the other series

@JoJo_6040 No. As a fan of both, it was great to see deserving drivers win their series. The pick a series rule helped those teams.

Monday, November 28th 'What If' Question

The season finale in Homestead-Miami was more than anyone imagined it would or could be. Sure, everyone had hoped that it would come down to the last lap with Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart going at for the championship. But no one actually thought that it would come down to the last lap with the two drivers chasing each other to the finish line with the winner taking all.

Or that after 36 races, 22 tracks, over 10,00 laps and 10 months of racing that it would end in a tie.

That's exactly what happened though when Stewart won the race and the championship for the third time in his career. He capped off an incredible Chase where he won five of the 10 races and became the first owner-driver to win the championship since Alan Kulwicki did so in 1992. The title, as mentioned third for Stewart, was the first for his organization, including co-owner Gene Haas and crew chief Darian Grubb. Stewart now sits behind Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt (seven), Jimmie Johnson (5) and Jeff Gordon (4) in the championship history books.

It didn't come easily though. Stewart started the day 15th on the grid while Edwards was on the pole. Then just eight laps into the race Kurt Busch lost his transmission which flew through Stewart's front grille. The damage sent Stewart to pit road and the back of the field, 40th, for the restart. As Edwards racked up the most laps led, 119 of 267, Stewart charged to the front.

More repairs sent him to the back of the field again where he again didn't stay long, going three and four wide as the No. 14 flew through the field, never feeling the affects of the damgae. Suddenly the race was on as Stewart earned the lead and Edwards started trailing him. Through the second half of the race the two never left the top five, even waited out a rain delay, before closing the season in dramatic fashion with a fight to the finish.

Stewart won the race, Edwards finished second but lost the championship because Stewart had the tie breaker. It will go down as the closest finish in NASCAR history and to some the best finale in history. Either driver would have been a deserving champion, both turning out gutsy performances through the Chase. Yet it led them into Homestead where it all came down to wins.

But ...

What if Stewart never had hole in front grille, would he have raced Edwards all day for most laps led & avoided points being a tie? #NASCAR

@MattEmbury Don't think it would've changed his style, that was "Tony being Tony"

@Talon64 Robert And he still has the pit stop gaffs? Then he probably doesn't lead the most laps either way.

@mrnascar2488 That my dear friend we will never know about #TonyStewart