Monday, March 26th 'What If' Question

Racing at the Bristol Motor Speedway would normally bring forth thoughts of beating, banging, rivalries and other such exciting thoughts.

Recently however, thoughts about racing at Bristol have been anything but positive. Then again, it depends on who you ask. One side, including winner of the last two Bristol races Brad Keselowski, will say that racing at Bristol is the best that it has ever been. Good racing doesn't have to include 50 cautions and half of the 43 car field torn up.

It can be side-by-side and long green flag runs. The other half though, say that's nonsense and racing at a shortrack like Bristol means the action should be tight, bumpers should be bent. That hasn't happened lately and many are upset that they've lost a great track to too many changes.

Hearing things like "flying fighter jets in a gymnasium," or "racin' the way it ought to be," or calling it "The last great colosseum" just falls flat. Goosebumps are no longer evoked and many are now calling for changes to be made to the track.

Bruton Smith has granted their wish. Last week he announced that changes will in fact be made to the track, but he didn't say what exactly that would entail. Whatever work he has planned will begin soon in order to be complete by the time the track sees action again in August.

"The race fans have spoken," said Smith in a statement. "We had input that included a wide range of opinions. But the majority we heard from said they wanted to see changes made. As a result, I have ordered the equipment and work will begin within the next two weeks to allow time to have everything ready for August."

The news has of course been met with mixed emotions. Keep it the way it is and let things play out, some say. Others want it torn up and started over, progressive banking done away with.

There are many questions left to be answered but for right now Smith is content to give fans what they want. Will these changes be enough or 'work' is another question and one that won't be answered for another four months.

But ...

What if Bristol was to be torn up & repaved, would you (A) agreed with that decision and (B) think it would be the best thing to do? #NASCAR

@celticsracin18 A

@hookemhorns51 a) no. b) nope. Economy, weather and Kentucky are the reasons. I like the idea of a softer tire for faster wear.

Thursday, March 22nd 'What If' Question

Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus will go down in the NASCAR history books as one of the greatest driver and crew chief combinations the Sprint Cup Series ever saw.

On the bottom of that page however, it could also be said that they were one of the sports greyest combinations. Their success and five-straight championships haven't come without controversy, instead they seem to be the poster boys for it. Knaus has made quite a name for himself in the garage and around the grandstands, some call him smart, an innovator and hard worker.

Others call him a cheater for the following reasons:

During his time in the Nationwide Series with Stacy Compton:

- unapproved shoulder harnesses, suspended two races and $5,000 fine
- unapproved window clips, $750 fine

Sprint Cup Series with Johnson:

- improperly installed mounting bolts, $25,000 fine
- unapproved air directional device $1,000 fine
- unapproved refrigerant, $2,500 fine
- car failing to meet height sticks after Las Vegas win (2005), team docked 25 championships points and Knaus suspended for two races, which was later overturned on appeal. Was still placed on 90 days probation and $35,000 fine
- shock absorbers taken by NASCAR after failing inspection following win in Dover (2005), NASCAR announced no penalties, saying team had exploited a loophole. Rulebook was later changed
- rear window fails inspection on 2006 Daytona 500 car. Knaus ejected from Speedweeks and later suspended for six weeks
- unapproved fenders at Sonoma (2007), cars were kept in the garage during the first practice. Knaus and teammate Steve Letarte both suspended for six weeks, 100 points taken away

Last fall in Talladega Knaus was caught on camera telling Johnson that should he win the race he needed to 'crack' the back of the car. He wasn't penalized but NASCAR kept a close eye on the 48 for the remainder of the season. That seemed to have carried over into 2012 when the 48 made news on opening day for the Daytona 500.

The car's C-posts were confiscated and the team made to rebuild that area before the car could participate in practice. The car however, never went through inspection. After Speedweeks was over NASCAR announced a six week suspension for Knaus and car chief Ron Malec, 25 driver and owner point deduction and a $100,000 fine for Knaus.

On their second appeal to Chief Appellate officer John Middlebrook the penalty, all except the $100,000, was completely overturned. Johnson moves to 11th in points entering California and won't have to lose Knaus or Malec. HMS reportedly argued that the car was not only legal but the C-posts have been inspected by NASCAR and used last year on HMS cars.

The ruling has sent shockwaves through the garage. Surprise seeming to be the biggest reaction while others say it was the only fair ruling since the car never went on the track, Johnson didn't gain an advantage. Kyle Petty went as far to say last weekend that the appeals process and those involved didn't know the team, the sport and shouldn't be judging Johnson or anyone else.

Once the appeal was overturned Petty declared how satisfied he was. There are still those however, that are wondering what exactly happened and if Knaus got one past NASCAR. The haters will continue to call him a cheater, others say no harm no foul since the car remained in the garage.

But ...

What if the No. 48 had made it to inspection then C-posts failed, does penalty still get overturned & do some still agree w/ruling? #NASCAR

@cruetten no. only reason I agree w/the penalty being overturned is 'cause it never got on the track. If it had, I would feel differently

@Albee_M no it would not have been overturned, and no I do not agree with the final ruling

@HD388 no way the ruling gets overturned if the 48 fails inspection probably would of made for a tougher punishment given Chad's past history, I agree with the ruling given the fact that the car never made it to inspection & they weren't allowed to sand or grind the C-post down like the other teams though I still am not sure why the fine stood

Saturday, March 17th 'What If' Question

The fastest cars don't always win, not even when a driver thinks they have the race all wrapped up.

Saturday in Bristol it was the defending champion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., cruising toward his second straight win and first at the short track when the caution came out with 40 laps to go. The leaders came down pit road for their final stops but Elliott Sadler stayed on track and inherited the lead.

Sadler went on to win the race, Stenhouse fell back to finish sixth in frustration. Feeling he had the best car, Stenhouse wasn't happy with where he had finished or with fellow competitor Justin Allgaier, whom he says pinched him into the wall early in the race and then had another run in with him at the end.

Stenhouse knew though that it came down to the pit road call. His No. 6 team came in for two tires as Sadler didn't pit and earned the track position. While Stenhouse didn't berate his crew chief or team for the decision, he understood that as the leader he was a sitting duck and whatever he did, someone else was bound to do the opposite.

However, it doesn't make it any less frustrating. With Sadler and his new Richard Childress Racing team on a roll thus far in 2012 - two wins, two third place finishes and the points lead - Stenhouse knows it's going to be a long year. Having won last week in Las Vegas, the 6 team was looking to continue the success they've had since last season and sending a message that they're ready to defend their title.

They can see though that Sadler and his team will be putting up a much better fight this time around. Sadler leads Stenhouse by 25 points heading into the season's fifth race next weekend in California.

But ...

What if that last caution hadn't come out, does Elliott Sadler or anyone else catch Ricky Stenhouse Jr for the win today at Bristol? #NASCAR

@armond_ealey no

@StrokerAce90 I would say yes, Elliot was a man on a mission.

Thursday, March 15th 'What If' Question

For all those "Did you see that?" moments look no further than the Daytona 500.

In its 54 year running there's been a little bit of everything: there was 'the fight', rain shortened events, rained out events, potholes, animals demolished by machines, tragedy, triumph, and now not only a Monday night race but a jet dryer explosion. Of course we all should have known we were in for some excitement when this year's race, for the first time in history, had to be postponed until Monday.

Then more rain pushed the race to Monday night, primetime and the excitement was notched up another level. The action started right away with a major crash that collected Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Danica Patrick and others on lap two. From there the Roush Fenway Racing drivers of Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle dominated the field.

And then as the race started to wind down it happened. Fire!

One of the jet dryers used to clean the race track during cautions began burning in turn three. A massive fire broke out as the gasoline from the jet dryer burned down the track. Upon further review it was found that something on Juan Pablo Montoya's No. 42 Target machine broke as he was trying to get up to speed and catch the field.

The car snapped away from him and spun into the jet dryer and chaos ensued from there. The race was red flagged for two hours as the track was cleaned and repaired. During that time Brad Keselowski tweeted from his car, drivers hung out on the backstretch and some raced each other to the porta potty.

When the race finally restarted it was Kenseth scoring his second 500 win over Dale Earnhardt Jr. Once the post race interviews and press conferences were over it was nearly 2:00 Tuesday morning. As the rest of the world woke up that Tuesday the Daytona 500 was national news, first because it was a primetime event and because of the amazing video of the jet dryer fire.

Keselowski tweeting from inside his race car didn't hurt either. NASCAR was already off to a roaring start in 2012 and the Daytona 500 got to add another historic page to its history book.

But ...

What if the jet dryer explosion hadn't happened, what would have been the most memorable moment of the 2012 Daytona 500 & would the race still have made national news?

@WickedJ8 No, it wouldnt have made news. But the story wouldve been not fully sponsored 17 winning the biggest race of the year..again

@Tradertoms Fact is that we will never forget that incident but considering it WAS a Night race, it was sure to make National News

@rcracer20 prime time and @DanicaPatrick ,had to think about who won

@StrokerAce90 Most memorable moment woulda been Danica's first Cup start. She made the Daytona 500 bigger National news by just being in it

Thursday, February 23rd 'What If' Question

This question was a fan submission from @AdamHeasley
Sunday's 54th annual Daytona 500 ends a long week filled with racing.

It started last Saturday night with the Budweiser Shootout, an exhibition race that's run only for fun and normally filled with plenty of excitement. After nearly wrecking in his No. 18 M&M's Toyota twice, and seeing Jeff Gordon barrel roll, Kyle Busch captured his first Shootout win. The following day Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle put Roush Fenway Racing on the front row for the Daytona 500 with Edwards capturing his first 500 pole.

And then came Thursday what might the most exciting but nerve-racking day of Speedweeks. Thursday two Gatorade Duel races not only decide the starting lineup of Sunday's Daytona 500 but who makes the Great American Race and who has to head home and try again next year.

After finishing second to Kyle Busch in a photo finish in the Budweiser Shootout it was Tony Stewart who captured the first Duel's checkered flag. He'll start third in the Daytona 500 as he attempts to win the big race for the first time in his career. But as Stewart headed for the checkered flag and a third place starting position in the 500, it was one of the cars that he owns who took a big hit behind him.

Rookie Danica Patrick found the inside wall on the backstretch after contact from Aric Almirola sent her No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet for a wild ride. The caution immediately flew and the field was frozen and NASCAR ruled where each driver had been when the caution had come out.

Patrick was forced to a backup car and will start the Daytona 500 from the 29th position. Finishing behind Stewart was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will lineup fifth on the starting grid.

But ...

"What if Duel #1 was the Daytona 500 and #NASCAR threw a caution while Junior had a run on Stewart on the final lap? What reactions would there be?"

@ARosser14 I'd be partying my butt off and wouldn't care what the Official Cult of NASCAR (Junior Nation) had to say about it one bit.

@NancyatStudioN Obvious answer - JR Nation would have gone berserk

@cruetten we would start throwing things, develop anger issues, schedules would clear up, would grow scraggly beards & take in stray animals

@murp0443 Better? Will Nascar start using better dscrtn when throwing caut on last lap. If wreck is behind leader no caution needed... On last lap ALL there is 2 think about is, "Wave yellow or let finish?" NOT tough to make the safe call & have great finish! I get safety. I get not racing back to the yellow mid-race... But just change that rule on final lap. Race till Checkers!!!

@AdamHeasley It would go to show how inconsistent NASCAR can be. It would cause a big controversy. Oh and I'll take credit for this one :)

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

Monday, February 13th 'What If' Question

Blame it on the milk and cookies.

Had it not been for that now infamous meeting at Hendrick Motorsports between Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus following the 2005 season the two most likely wouldn't have gone on their incredible five-year championship run. The reason is at the time the No. 48 team was going through some internal turmoil and the relationship between Johnson and Knaus wasn't what he once was, they no longer were seeing eye-to-eye.

After blowing a tire in the season finale at Homestead, finishing 40th and failing to overtake Tony Stewart for the '05 championship tem owner Rick Hendrick sat the two down. It was time to put it all out there and get over whatever problems they were having. And yes, they literally had milk and cookies as Hendrick told them if they were going to act like children he was going to treat them like it. The plates even had mickey mouse ears.

The two hashed it out and the team stayed together instead of splitting up like rumors seemed to indicate. A few months later Johnson went out and won the 2006 Daytona 500, with Knaus at home after having been suspended earlier in the week when the car failed post-qualifying inspection. Johnson went on to win a few weeks later at Las Vegas, then Talladega before earning his first win at the Brickyard and Martinsville on his way to his first NASCAR championship.

Everyone knows what happened in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 before Tony Stewart came along again in 2011 when Johnson finally had a bad year, at least by the standards that many have become accustomed to. While it's impossible to think that Johnson and company will never win another title, his five year title reign will be remembered the most. That was the time when he seemed invincible, untouchable and everyone's biggest nightmare. He'll go down in NASCAR history and if there's anyone would could match the feat it would be himself.

But ...

What if there was no milk & cookies meeting for @JimmieJohnson & CKnaus before 2006, would their 5yr title run still have happened?

@HarpAmyStabler I think that a championship might've happened. But, maybe not a 5 yr stretch run.

@rcracer20 best ? yet. think chad would be gone and no titles, think chad/gordon would have been unstoppable #ihate24

@cruetten i think if that meeting and every other star hadn't aligned just as it did, there wouldn't have been a five-year run of Cups.