Saturday, November 30th 'What If' Question

Not since the championship battle of Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards in 2011 had two drivers gone into the Chase for the Sprint Cup so equally matched.

Stewart and Edwards ended up tying for that title with Stewart earning his third crown because he had more wins. This past season history very well could have repeated itself with Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth. The two drivers who all season and all Chase long, proved they were the cream of the crop.

Kenseth opened the Chase with two straight wins and quickly took commanding control of the point lead. Johnson stalked the Joe Gibbs Racing driver and racked up top fives and wins of his own. During the second half of the Chase they traded the point lead back and forth, setting themselves up for a fantastic finale in Homestead.

But before Homestead comes Phoenix.

It was Johnson on the pole with Kenseth starting deep in the field. While the 48 Lowe’s team from Hendrick Motorsports had a solid top five day – escaping what could have been two major incidents – Kenseth struggled mightily. The No. 20 team never hit the setup and were only able to salvage a 23rd place finish.

Suddenly the exciting championship battle was out of reach. The point lead for Johnson heading into Homestead was an insurmountable 28. A top 25 finish in Homestead would (and did) seal his sixth Sprint Cup championship.

An anti-climatic ending to a Chase that had been shaping up as one of the best in its 10 year history.

But …

What if Johnson and Kenseth had gone into Homestead a lot closer in points, in a winner take all, who'd you put money on and why? 

@Revvin4Seven48 Johnson, been in championship situations more often that not. Plus Knaus would have been the X Factor. 

@kbr81911 Wow...thats a hard question. They are both great under pressure! I cant say Id even want to bet on either one! 

@MC412 Easily 48. They've been through this enough that the pressure wouldn't affect them. I think the JGR crew could choke. 

Josh Jones (via Facebook) Even though I am not a fan of his, I would still say Jimmie, just because Chad and him always know what to do during the chase races

Marshall Gabell (via Facebook) Jimmie, because he's Jimmie 

Brian Cullather (via Facebook) I'd say Jimmie too because of the Chad factor 

Thursday, September 9th 'What If' Question

It all comes down to one race and two drivers. While others are still mathematically eligible  to make this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup Series Championship, all eyes are on Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon going to Richmond.

Busch holds the second Wild Card spot, with his one win from May at the same track. Gordon sits 14th, fighting a year of bad luck and many mechanical failures. He too, has a lone win from Pocono. And the scenario is simple: whoever finishes ahead of the other will make the Chase.

Yet, while both Busch and Gordon have had their fair share of success at the Virginia track, Busch enters the weekend as the favorite. He's the most recent winner at the track and it's Gordon who has to beat him. A tall task simply because of the fact that anything and everything that could happen to a driver and team this season, has to Gordon.

They must continue to fight from behind if they want a shot at the Chase. A situation neither company, Joe Gibbs Racing with Busch and Hendrick Motorsports with Gordon, imagined themselves in before the season started. Except here they are, Busch not wanting to miss the Chase again as he did in 2009 and Gordon hoping to have something go right in his season. Saying it's never over until it's over, and he too, doesn't want to experience being on the outside looking in as he did in 2005.

Each driver knows what they have to do, Busch feeling confident in his team and the track. Gordon looking to avenge a heartbreaking loss to Hamlin at Atlanta, saying he won't make the same mistake twice.

But ...

What if Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon are running together on the last lap Saturday, who makes it back to the checkered flag and into the Chase?

@ARosser14 Whoever's third

@HarpAmyStabler Kyle makes it to the Chase and the checkered flag

Wednesday, July 4th 'What If' Question

Prior to the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season domination used to belong to two drivers: Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch.

If they weren't battling each other they were fending off Busch's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, Joey Logano. Now Logano has picked up where Edwards and Busch have left off. Halfway through the NNS season Logano has five wins, the most of anyone in the series.

Even more impressive, he's only competed in 12 of the 16 races. When he's not winning races he's leading a ton of laps (468) or capturing poles (3). Anytime he's behind the wheel of the No. 18 he's become the driver to beat. Deja vu for competitors when Busch used to be that driver.

At first glance many would be shocked to see that Busch has not yet won a NNS this season. Look closer though and you see that this season different for Busch. His team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, moved to the NNS after coming off a Camping World Truck Series owners title in their first year.

Moving up the ladder however, is hard. Something that Busch fully recognizes. Older brother Kurt delivered the team's first, and so far only, NNS win back at Richmond in April. Not to say that Kyle hasn't come close to winning a few races himself but luck and circumstance just got in the way.

So, as he fights to make his own company contenders, Logano enjoys the role of dominator. The good news for NNS drivers is that Logano will not be in this Saturday's event at New Hampshire as Ryan Truex gets another start in the No. 18.

Kyle Busch will be entered in his No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota. He's won the last three New Hampshire races.

But ...

What if Kyle Busch still ran NNS races for Joe Gibbs Racing, would Joey Logano still be as dominant as he's been this season? 


@mattwoodruff29 No he wouldn't.......

@HD388 Logano wouldn't be dominating NNS if Busch were there. Busch is the far more superior driver & would have 3 wins by now. Logano probably would only have 1

@31SpazCat15 not really answering the what if? But I think it proves that given the same equipment and resources.... Joey is a winner too

Tuesday, February 21st 'What If' Question

The signing of Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports have brought forth a major change to the landscape in the NASCAR garage. That includes the news, attention and focus by those watching and covering the sport.

The 2008 season featured the HMS lineup as Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears and Earnhardt Jr., with Kyle Busch being the odd man out and landing at Joe Gibbs Racing. To some it appeared that Hendrick had chosen Earnhardt Jr. over Busch and the consensus, those that weren't profanity fulled, seemed to be that he [Hendrick] would regret it.

Busch went out and won eight races in 2008 to Earnhardt Jr.'s one and when the two tangled in Richmond while racing for the win with less than five laps to go, the racing world ignited. It was fueled further when Earnhardt Jr. seemed to return the favor at the fall race in Richmond later the year. The have been constantly compared while the the team changes for both have been dissected and analyzed for who it has benefited more.

Busch has experienced both the highs and lows at JGR. He's won multiple races and contended for the championship only to see it disappear when the Chase started. He's broken records in the CWTS and NNS and then been benched in the Cup Series because of his actions.

Earnhardt Jr. has also had the ups and downs of racing. In 2008 he broke his winless streak and made the Chase. But in 2009 and 2010 fell off the map again and went through many team changes. To which Kyle Busch said, "It's always the crew chief, it's never the driver" and Earnhardt Jr. replied by saying that he's always had a problem with him and would take a shot whenever he could. Including during a race when laughing that Earnhardt Jr. was a lap down. In 2011 Earnhardt Jr. returned to the Chase but still hasn't won a race.

Meanwhile, Casey Mears only lasted the 2008 season with Hendrick before moving the RCR. Mark Martin came to Hendrick for the 2009-2011 season and now Kasey Kahne inherits the No. 5 for the next few years. Mears went from RCR to Key Motorsports in 2010 but then subbed for the ill Brian Vickers at Red Bull Racing for the remainder of the year. Starting in 2011 Mears became the driver of the No. 13 GEICO Toyota for Germain Racing.

Time will tell what's ahead for everyone involved as the 2012 season gets underway in Daytona with the 54th annual Daytona 500.

But ...

What if Rick Hendrick & Hendrick Motorsports hadn't kept Casey Mears over Kyle Busch in 2007 when signing Dale Earnhardt Jr., would the two still have been watched as closely and compared by others, would Busch still have taken jabs at Junior when he struggled and changed crew chiefs or would the two have been able to coincide on the same team with no problems?

@cruetten I think KB would've become an even bigger PR disaster at HMS because he would've constantly tried to outshine Jr's star.

@dougthethird Kyle would still be there, Kasey wouldn't, and RCR would still have 4 teams

Thursday, January 26th 'What If' Question

A big part of any NASCAR season is not just what takes place on the track in terms of winners, great finishes, boring races, rivalries or any other such events.

Before long the rumblings and rumors start about which drivers could be where the following year. It's called silly season and sometimes appropriately so with all the moves that teams make. It starts with drivers who become free agents, those with contracts about to end with their current team, and snowballs from there and 2012 will be no different.

There have already been plenty of changes heading into the season but it won't stop the talking. One drivers who will hear the whispers, again, will be Joe Gibbs Racing's Joey Logano whose contract ends after this season. Logano enters his fourth fill NSCS season behind the wheel of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota that he inherited, perhaps prematurely, when Tony Stewart left JGR to form his own team.

Logano has one win, rain shortened at New Hampshire in 2009, on his resume but not much else. He's never finished higher than 16th in points (2010), hasn't contended for the Chase and fails to impress in the statistical categories of top 10s and top fives. That was with champion crew chief Greg Zipadelli, a veteran in the garage and on top of the pit box who won two championships and 33 races with Stewart.

Zipadelli has moved to Stewart-Haas Racing to reunite with Stewart as the company's director of competition. He'll also serve as part-time crew chief for rookie Danica Patrick in select events. It left a void on Logano's team that has been filled by Jason Ratcliff, a crew chief in the NNS for JGR.

Ratcliff used to work with teammate Kyle Busch, the two winning the driver's title in 2009 and owner's title in 2010. He has 11 NNS seasons under his belt and 36 wins on his resume, 33 coming from Busch. Now he'll lead the Home Depot as he ventures into the Cup Series as a crew chief, looking to turn Logano into a winner and Chase contender like his teammates.

Says Logano of the upcoming season, “I definitely feel like it’s my team now. With Jason there, I can voice my opinion and I think we’re all working together very well. We value each other’s opinion a lot and with the accomplishments we have, we respect each other a lot.

“I think it is going to be a very positive change for us. And I think it is a positive change for Zip. It is a good change for him. Every once in a while, you’ve got to hit the reset button and go at it again.”

But ...

What if Joey Logano does not show improvement in 2012 with his contract up at the end of the season, will he be come a free agent? #NASCAR

@ARosser14 Probably. Might end up in a Roush Ford, either with RFR, RPM, or the Woods.

@HarpAmyStabler Possibly. He also might get another shot with his own team now that Zippy is gone. Give that time to work now.

@StrokerAce90 I would think so, It's got to be oh so tempting for JGR to want to put Kurt Busch in that 20 car if Joey don't improve soon.

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.

Thursday, August 11th 'What If' Question

Thursday afternoon Joe Gibbs Racing announced that starting in 2012 they would be partnering with Toyota Racing Development, TRD, to produce engines.

Gibbs engines have taken a beating this season with many failures and drivers upset about the performance. Up until this point JGR had built their engines in house and while that won't be the case next season, they say they'll keep their engine shop for other projects. Along with their Sprint Cup Series program the team also runs a Nationwide program with their three Cup stars and other development drivers.

In Nationwide JGR has won many races and owner championships and recently a driver's championship with Kyle Busch in 2009. They've had drivers behind the wheel like Kelly Bires, Michael McDowell, Drew Herring, Brad Coleman and many others. The company has been successful with all their drivers in Nationwide and Cup as well as in the developmental series they run with drivers like Darrell Wallace Jr. and Max Gresham.

During their engine announcement though, president J.D. Gibbs said they could expand their Nationwide program and add a Camping World Truck Series program. Currently JGR driver Kyle Busch has his own CWTS team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, which has been very successful in the series by winning races and the owners championship last year.

If JGR creates their own truck team it would be doubtful that Busch would drive for them but can the same be said about Denny Hamlin or Joey Logano? Time will tell if JGR is serious about this adventure and who they have in mind for their driver lineup. Right now their focus is on making the 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup and taking care of their engine issues and future deals.

But ...

What if Joe Gibbs Racing does start a CWTS team, who would you like to see them put in the driver's seat? #NASCAR

@tcmcdave Doug Williams.

@cruetten Cole Whitt

@rcracer20 i think @DWallaceJr6 would be a good choice he already drives for gibbs

@cmleedy Awesome choice! RT @cruetten: Cole Whitt

@smokinace88 McDowell

@The_Bumpdrafter who will they? Logano and Hamlin. Who should they? Try to pick up the Kenseth boy or the younger Dillon.

@jsmith123nv: @JustinJohnson51 would be a great choice and has proven he can drive

Dustin Parks (via Facebook) I'd love to see Johnny Benson drive for Gibbs. Proven winner, proven champion...perfect fit.

Wednesday, July 27th 'What If' Question

The NFL isn't the only place where free agent frenzy is taking place.

NASCAR has their own big names on the line this season including who has had all the buzz around him, Carl Edwards. The Roush-Fenway driver, who is currently leading the Sprint Cup Series points, has always been a championship contender and race winner. Whether he stays at RFR or moves to a new organization it'll be a benefit to all.

Edwards has won 19 career NSCS races as well as the Sprint All-Star race. While has yet to win a Cup championship, closest being second in 2008, he has won a Nationwide Series championship and 34 career wins. He's great with the fans and the sponsors and has plenty of bring to a company regardless of how he may be viewed on the track.

The question just becomes where is he going to land if he does indeed do what some are saying is the unthinkable and leave RFR. The biggest rumor for most of this season has been Edwards joining Joe Gibbs Racing. That would set up a few different scenarios, the first being the replacement of Joey Logano. The Home Depot driver hasn't been horrible but the team could be better and some are already putting Edwards in the 20 car.

Another possible scenario should Edwards join the already strong JGR team with Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, would be the addition of a fourth car. JGR has never ruled out the possibility, in fact they ran a fourth car in select races a few seasons ago. If JGR really wants to add Edwards to the fold it wouldn't be surprising if they just expanded the organization.

That's the possibilities should Edwards leave Roush, which as mentioned seem a little far off. The Missouri driver has been with the Cat in the Hat since he debuted in the sport, running Trucks, Nationwide and Cup cars for him. It's the only home he's ever known and it's been a great home for him, one that provides a good opportunity to win a championship. Not many would leave that situation.

But ...

What if Carl Edwards does leave Roush-Fenway, who should they be looking at as a replacement? Or should they bring up @StenhouseJr? #NASCAR

@jasonskow no brainer @Tbayne21

@NancyatStudioN I can't believe Ford will allow Carl 2 leave Roush. They'd B left with no *star* driving a Ford. Can U say "BIG BUCKS"?

@StrokerAce90 They should hire @JenJoCobb if Carl leaves.

@AllHorsepower I don't know if you could find a replacement. If anything, I'd possibly like to see Bayne get the ride. If Roush does in fact lose Edwards, it is going to hurt in many aspects. Right now, he is the face of that organization, and is the guy for RFR in the points. Personally, I don't think Stenhouse is ready for a Cup ride, not yet at least. I'd love to see Bayne get the ride though, it'd be a great reward for the Daytona 500 champion.

@Lady31RCR I think they would bring up @Tbayne21 and @StenhouseJr for a split ride..Part time for both, both stay full time nationwide.

Michael Hirschbein (via Facebook) Well with what Fenway paid to acquire Liverpool FC and then pay Lebron...Its no wonder why they can't afford a guy who does backflips with precision..

Thursday, May 12th 'What If' Question

As Tony Stewart announced his departure from Joe Gibbs Racing in late 2008, the dominoes began to fall. JGR had to find his replacement in the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota and would do so in speeding up the career path of Joey Logano. For the 2009 season and beyond the JGR stable would consist of Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 FedEx Toyota, Kyle Busch in the No. 18 M&M's Toyota and now Logano.

Stewart though wasn't done. He would hire Ryan Newman away from Penske Racing to drive the No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet. That left Penske searching for a replacement for the No. 12 and found one in David Stremme who would drive without a sponsor that season. Their lineup now consisted of Kurt Busch in the Miller Lite No. 2, Stremme in the No. 12 and Sam Hornish Jr. in the Mobile 1 No. 77.

Since that time a lot has happened to all organizations involved. Stewart became a championship contender in 2009, as he lead the point standings through the first 26 races before stumbling in the Chase. Newman won his first race since 2008 when he found victory lane at Phoenix in 2010. Joe Gibbs Racing has never been better with Busch and Hamlin tearing up the series as they too became championship contenders with Hamlin falling short of dethroning Johnson in the last race of the 2010 season. Logano has also become the youngest Sprint Cup Series winner with a victory in a rain shortened race at New Hampshire.

Penske Racing has gone through many changes. Kurt Busch is now the driver of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge while Brad Keselowski who was hired in 2010 has moved to the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge. Sam Hornish Jr. has moved to a part time Nationwide Series schedule as the No. 12 and 77 are no more.

But ...

What If Tony Stewart didn't start his team w/Newman & stayed at Joe Gibbs Racing, how different would JGR & Penske Racing be today? #NASCAR

@Talon64: Tony would leave JGR after contract over, maybe still form own team. But Newman would've already left Penske for another team

@Lady31RCR: Where would Joey be....sad face....and I didn't like Tony back then...but he is my #2 driver now!!

@Jrocket10: great "what if". I think the 20 car would be performing much better w/ smoke in it.. Meaning JGR would overall be better

@cruetten: I think Home Depot would be happier,and I never thought Newman and KuBu were that great together--would've gotten worse.

Wednesday, March 23rd 'What If' Question

Next to Jimmie Johnson, no driver has made more headlines since 2008 than Kyle Busch.

Once he joined Joe Gibbs Racing and the Toyota camp, Busch has been unstoppable in everything he's sat in. He won eight races in 2008 and led the point standings for the first 26 races. In 2009 he won the Nationwide Series championship and in 2010 he started his own Truck Series team and won the owner's championship there.

He's now won 90 races across all of NASCAR's three series. Yet, besides the NNS title in 2009 he has failed to capture a Cup championship and has yet to be a real factor in the Chase fight. Last weekend he again swept the races at the Bristol Motor Speedway and put himself back in the spotlight as some are making him their picks for Busch to dethrone Johnson for the title.

Except the question has again been raised, is Busch outracing himself? Even at 25-years-old, running in all three series has it's downfall and Busch loves to race anything he can. Of course, being damn good at what he does makes that decision come easy, however Busch continually has more success in NASCAR's lower two levels than he does in the Sprint Cup Series.

During the off season the question was raised by yours truly on whether or not Busch would be a better Cup driver if he cut back on the racing that he does in the Truck and Nationwide Series. In doing so, his focus would be only on the Cup Series and who knows what his potential would be. You don't see Johnson running in anything other than the Cup Series and his success has yet to be matched.

Others though say that Busch should race while he can and that his success on Sunday has nothing to do with what he does on Friday and Saturday. That he could have, before NASCAR's new rules, become the first driver to win the championship in Nationwide and Cup in the same year. Then there are some Busch fans that just want to see him race and keep winning because that's where all the fun is at.

But ...

What If Kyle Busch was like Jimmie Johnson - raced/focused solely on Sprint Cup, would he already be a champion? #NASCAR

@Talon64: Probably not, Carl Edwards came close in 2005 and 2008 despite running full time in #NNS.

@smokinace88: Yes I dont want to sound mean here but the more he focuses on Tracks and Nation Wide he'll never win a Championship

@RoushGirl17: Not yet, he still has some maturing to do. He needs to find patience. He needs to find that cool under pressure Jimmie has. Once he finds that, he could be though. Once he gets all of that, he can settle into one series and do it.

@denver2u: No, I don't think he had the maturity to pull off all the wins that JJ has.Moving forward,I think he's a real good contender

@StrokerAce90: No. He's a driver other drivers refer to as an ass, say he races like a clown & claim to owe him payback. It'll never happen.

@cruetten: yes. the same goes for harvick too. they have a lot going on, whereas JJ drives mainly cup and doesn't own truck/NNS teams...

@csigmon12: KY is definately a great driver, but JJ makes what KY does look EASY...Wish BOTH their clutches slipped a little more often

@NancyatStudioN: Nah, While extremely talented, Kyle has not been mature enough to focus on the big picture. All he could see was THIS race, right NOW. This may be changing. If it does, look out. If you think ppl have hated having JJ win all the championships, imagine how it would be if Kyle started winning them.

Tuesday, August 31st "What If" Question

Drivers switch teams, teams switch crews, sponsors switch organizations. They're some of the many things that happen in the NASCAR garage but very rarely do you see an organization change manufacturers, but Joe Gibbs Racing has had three over the last few years.

It started with Pontiac where drivers Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart each won championships, in 2000 and 2002 respectively. In 2003 they switched to Chevrolet where Stewart brought home another title two years later in 2005. However, before the 2008 season JGR announced they would be switching to Toyota, who had entered the Sprint Cup Series in 2007. Things didn't go very well for the company and many called their performances with the company's they were aliened with to be embarrassing.

Joining forces with JGR would provide winners behind the wheel and Toyota was willing to spend whatever amount of money they needed to be successful. It proved to be the right combination as the manufacturer and company are ones to beat each and every weekend, no matter what series they're racing in.

Kyle Busch delivered a Nationwide Series championship last year and on top of their numerous owners championships in the Truck series, are looking to add a Sprint Cup title in 2010. Denny Hamlin has already won five races and was the pre-season pick to dethrone Jimmie Johnson.

But ...

What if Joe Gibbs Racing/Toyota never partnered. Would Toyota have become a force each week? How would JGR be doing w/another brand?

@NancyatStudioN l I think JGR would've done well but maybe not AS well as I think they got more support ($?) from Toyota than they got elsewhere. I think JGR gave Toyo legitimacy quicker than w/o JGR & I can't think of another Toyota team that could've done that.

@RedChevy14 What I wonder is if they'd still have Tony, if HaasCNC would have bothered to offer the ownership. And Toyota probably would have eventually gotten strong through MWR and some other top team they lured in JGR's place.

@dougthethird JGR would be fine. Toyota would be fine, but instead of winning tons they'd just be solid. MWR and Red Bull would carry them

@Emily_988 Missed the question at first, but my thoughts are that JGR was stronger with Chevy/Pontiac. That's what won championships.

@Ol_Man_Winter Toyota would hav found another team 2 pour lots funds into & still win. JGR could win w/other brand.