Tuesday, December 26th 'What If' Question

The 2001 death of Dale Earnhardt changed the complexion of NASCAR in many ways. Earnhardt was killed on the last lap of the Daytona 500 while running third, he hit the turn four wall head-on after losing control of his iconic No. 3 and making contact with other competitors.

Since that time the cars, some tracks, and a plethora of safety innovations have both changed and revolutionized the sport we’ve all come to know and love. For as much as Earnhardt did for the sport as he lived, he’s continued to do so in death. Except, it’s not just the sport that’s changed, those in it have as well.

When he was alive, Earnhardt and wife Teresa ran his own three car operation, Dale Earnhardt Inc., with drivers Steve Park, Michael Waltrip and son Dale Earnhardt Jr. After his passing the company was continued on by Teresa, who did her best to keep her husband’s legacy alive while putting a championship ran team on track.

Soon, as the racing world watched, everything fell apart. Earnhardt Jr., who raced with other family members such as his cousin and uncle, found himself at odds with his stepmother. Changes were being made that he didn’t agree with and prior to the 2007 season he put his cards on the table: give him some control of the company or he walks out of the door.

Teresa never blinked and Earnhardt Jr. signed with Hendrick Motorsports beginning with the 2008 season. Making it easier for her was the fact that Earnhardt Sr. had never had his will changed – perhaps because he either never thought about it or didn’t want to – leaving the company in her control and not with his children.

In any case, what Earnhardt may or may not have wanted, was never seen. Earnhardt Jr. went on to have a successful season: winning one race and making the Chase with DEI doing the opposite. They failed to win and his former car, the No. 8 was shut down because of a lack of sponsorships.

Starting in 2009 the company would be merged with Chip Ganassi’s, forming Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing. They’re biggest season to date would be a year later, 2010, when driver Jamie McMurray won the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400. They have yet, however, proven to be championship contenders.

Earnhardt Jr. meanwhile has experienced his own ups and downs at HMS. He made the Chase in 2008, 2011 and this past season. Yet, he’s won only twice and is working with his third different crew chief.

His Nationwide Series team, which he brought to HMS as well, has found themselves in a similar situation. They brought Brad Keselowski to the spotlight before he left for Penske and now a Cup championship, before struggling to fill their seats and find the winner's circle. Danica Patrick has come and gone, JRM bringing her to NASCAR and now setting her off to a Cup ride of her own.

And the family aspect isn’t as strong for Earnhardt Jr. anymore either. Both his cousin and uncle have left under difficult circumstances. Sister Kelley, who also owns part of JRM, remains at Earnhardt Jr.’s side.

But …

What if DEI had been left to the Earnhardt children - not Teresa - how different would everything/one be now? Including Eanhardt-Ganassi? 

@JamersonD I think EGR wouldn't exist. Still DEI with Jr stil in the 8. I think they'd be getting engines from Hendrick now though. 

@TomLglEdtr hard to say; by most accounts Teresa had great marketing sense (value of Dale Sr. brand); would his kids appreciate that?

@HD388 EGR never happens. Jr stays & DEI would be a solid 3 car operation with that puts all 3 cars in the Chase year after year

@SMofHRinHC It would have fallen apart even faster. 

Kenneth J Carlson (via Facebook) Dale Jr would still be driving the 8 car

Clayton Caldwell (via Facebook) Good question....All the Chevy teams are now second to Hendrick who is quickly becoming the dominate force in NASCAR. Would it have been different. Yes, but how much different. IDK. It wouldn't have been family run cause Pops and Jr got canned at JR Motorsports so .... 

Kelly Crandall (via Facebook - responding) But would they have been? Would things have gone on this far and like they are now? This can be a loaded question because it affects so many people and a few different companies. 

Clayton Caldwell (via Facebook) I agree. My thing is though look at a team like RCR. They are not even close to a team like Hendrick. Harvick left to drive for Hendrick's B team next year? As bad as a job Teresa did running the organization  would it be different? IDK. I mean Chip Ganassi had to merge and he has a ton of money. It's just a completely different sport than it was in 2007 and IDK if DEI would still be a powerhouse. 

Kelly Crandall (via Facebook) It's been a crazy few years since it happened. I think you also have to look at how many changes she made, and if Junior or Kelley being in charge, if they would have made the same ones. Such as moving around teams and personnel, like sending the 8 team to Michael beginning in 2005. Or how Jr.'s Nationwide team would be like now if he didn't have as close an association with Hendrick. And if he never goes to Hendrick, is Kyle still there? Many different ways to look at it, I guess. It's interesting to look back at how much has happened. 

Clayton Caldwell (via Facebook) Yeah and I'm not tryin to kill Jr but this is fact, I mean with the way he struggled so bad in the "COT" they woulda looked at other alternatives, which probably means merger. It is sad what happened to that team, and a lot of teams since 2007. I mean DEI made their own engines. Coming into next year we are going to have 5 engine builders! 5! In 2007 we had 12. It's just changed so much. 

Kelly Crandall (via Facebook) He never did figure out the COT, hated it, in fact. Wonder if he had worked with Pops if he would have done a little better?

Clayton Caldwell (via Facebook) You never know. I mean Pops coulda struggled in the COT too. I think Zipadelli couldn't get his arms around that car and that's part of the reason why the 20 struggled so bad and the 14 and 39 took a hit this year. Just my opinion. 

Thursday, December 20th 'What If' Question

Ford Championship weekend in Homestead-Miami again played host to NASCAR's grand finale. All three National Series would be crowning champions, with the possibility of all three being first-time champions at that.

The first act of the three act weekend was the Camping World Truck Series and the Ford EcoBoost 200. James Buescher entered the weekend as the point leader, hanging to a 15 point advantage on rookie Ty Dillon. Buescher, racing for team owner and father-in-law Steve Turner, was looking for his first title in just his fourth full season.

Buescher had dominated the year, winning the most races (four) and leading the points the final four weeks. Except Dillon wasn't about to let Buescher have an easy clinching race, entering the final race of the season with hopes of becoming the second Dillon to win the CWTS title in as many years. Older brother Austin had won it the year before.

For much of the event Buescher was in firm control of his destiny, ahead of Dillon on track and keeping his point lead. As the race wound down however, business picked up and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops team played their hand, making the necessary adjustments to move Dillon up in the field and more importantly, ahead of Buescher.

With two laps to go he was running second when fellow rookie Kyle Larsen made a bold move to his inside in turn three. The two made contact and hit the wall ending both of their nights and Dillon's championship run. At the time, he would have been within one point of Buescher as they ran on the track.

Dillon instead finished 25th while Buescher came home 13th and won the championship. Afterwards, though disappointed, Dillon noted that he was at peace with that occurred because his team had given it everything they had in trying to win the championship in their first year together. He'll be back in 2013 to try again.

But ...

What if Ty Dillon doesn't wreck at Homestead while racing Kyle Larsen, does he overtake and beat James Buescher for the championship?

@Talon64 As long as the race goes caution-free, then Buescher probably would've slipped back enough for Ty to take it.

@JorgeMondacaFOX No

@HMPPhoto I think he was reaching for straws and going for broke! Like wouldn't have caught Buescher!

Tuesday, October 9th 'What If' Quesiton

Sometimes all it takes to ruin the perfect moment or the perfect race, is one split second decision. Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart found himself in that position when he came down the track to block Michael Waltrip's big run and caused a 25 car wreck.

Stewart, who was leading at the time, was trying to win the race. When he quickly found himself in the sucker-hole, the middle of the track with cars flying past on the outside and inside, he made the only decision he could: try to protect his position.

Stewart ended up getting turned by Waltrip who was being pushed by Casey Mears. When the dust settled and the checkered flag was shown, Matt Kenseth was declared the winner with only Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon making it through the carnage behind him. Stewart did apologize for starting the wreck and took responsibility, but many others weren't happy with the type of racing they had seen.

Most vocal was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who we learned later had suffered a concussion. He'll be sitting out the next two Sprint Cup Series races.

The wreck also shook up the point standings. Brad Keselowski extended his lead to 14 over Johnson, who wrecked while Keselowski was able to save his car and drive to a seventh place finish. Anything could have happened had the pack made to the finish line as they were, instead one mistake on the final lap, in the final corner changed everything.

Such is the life in NASCAR.

But ..

What if Stewart and Waltrip didn't get together and start last lap crash, of that big pack coming off turn four, take your pick: who wins Talladega?

@TheOrangeCone Josh Wise

@Anthony_Stuart Kenseth: not enough time was left for them to get by him

@FurnitureRow_78 Waltrip definitely would have won!

@NaScArFaN995 michael waltrip or casey mears

@Gman1439 Waltrip vs Kenseth, I say Waltrip would of won

@31SpazCat15 I think Mikey wins!!

@philenespanol Mikey. He had a full head of steam (hence getting into smoke) and probably would have settled it between him and Clint

@mattwoodruff29 Harvick he was right on Kenseth's and could had went for the win!

@NancyatStudioN Michael Waltrip

@chuckallen2 @mw55 was going to win, no doubt in my mind. His momentum, getting pushed in the perfect spot on track were just enough

@Rasenna Tony! He's the man!

@HarpAmyStabler I think that Mikey or Casey Mears would have duked it out for the win.

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, August 29th 'What If' Question

A failed drug test at Kentucky and subsequent suspension at Daytona - then firing from Penske - did more than lose AJ Allmendinger his ride in NASCAR. It opened the door to one of the silliest seasons in the Sprint Cup Series and this year's version of musical race seats.

With Allmendinger off the track and taking care of his personal business, Sam Hornish Jr. stepped into the No. 22 Shell / Pennzoil Dodge. Hornish soon found himself doing double duty, competing for the Nationwide Series championship while helping keep the Cup team head's above water. And Hornish hasn't done that bad of a job, impressing many and starting the whispers of who should be in the car full-time.

Those whispers quickly died down when Matt Kenseth not only announced he was leaving Roush - Fenway Racing but reports ran wild that he was going to join Joe Gibbs Racing. That meant more dominoes needed to fall, such as who Kenseth would replace or if another JGR car was going to be added to the stable.

Yet, as details started to emerge of Kenseth's new home with JGR it became clear that Joey Logano was also going to be someplace else in 2013. Penske and the 22 was the logical choice, although many held out hope that the Captain, Roger Penske, would keep the seat in-house and reward Hornish's efforts.

That didn't happen. Kenseth is going to Logano's ride at JGR and Logano is going into Allmendinger / Hornish's ride at Penske. It's the NASCAR snowball effect, one thing leads to another. When one car opens .. well, you get the idea.

Fortunately for Hornish, he still has a job in '13 as he'll remain with Penske, running a full-time NNS schedule again with hopes of Cup races.

But ...

What if AJ Allmendinger was still in the 22, and with Kenseth going to JGR, where would Logano have ended up in 2013 since the 22 would be unavailable? 

@17FordFan Logano would stay at JGR and run full NNS and possible NSCS races if they had sponsor $

@chuckallen2 Probably full time JGR Nationwide/ PT Cup deal. Although nothing was indicating that AJ would keep it regardless.

@HD388 Logano would go back to the Nationwide Series for JGR til sponsorship for a 4th car could be found but

@abullins I've heard Penske started talking to Logano before Kentucky so it would still be his probably.

Wednesday, July 18th 'What If' Question

Since 1909 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has welcomed racers from around the world and all across the country.

And since that time they've crowned winners in many different forms. From F1, MotoGP, IndyCar and then to the surprise of many, NASCAR. Beginning in 1994 it was stock cars roaring around the famed Brickyard with Jeff Gordon taking home the first checkered flag.

Since then the Brickyard 400 has become one of NASCAR's most prestigious races, and according to IMS the second-highest paying race behind the Daytona 500.

Just two years after NASCAR got there a great Indianapolis tradition was born. In the name of tradition and winning big races, the Daytona International Speedway places the winners car in the Daytona 500 USA museum for a year. The driver is the introduced as the Daytona 500 winner for the remainder of the year and their name goes into the record books not just as winner, but a Daytona 500 champion.

Now when a driver wins at Indy they end up with much the same accolades. Part of their tradition is taking a ride around the speedway in the pace car and going to the "Yard of Bricks."

That's where they'll have one of the most memorable kisses of their life. It was Dale Jarrett and crew chief Todd Parrott who started the tradition in '96 when they innocently went to kiss the bricks after their win. They were soon joined by the entire team who also kissed the bricks and the rest as they say is history.

NASCAR winners and IndyCar winners all get their chance to kiss the bricks and go down in history as a winner at Indianapolis. Win there and you'll be remembered forever, regardless of whatever else you've done.

Beginning next weekend Indianapolis will now host the NASCAR Nationwide Series at the big track. For many years the NNS and CWTS raced away from Indianapolis at the small oval in Clermont, Indiana. The Lucas Oil Raceway - formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park and O'Reilly Raceway Park - will not be hosting NNS or CWTS races beginning in 2012, although many agreed the shorttrack put on some great racing throughout its history.

Now the Brickyard will go from hosting just Sprint Cup drivers and race to the NNS the day before. While Daytona does the same, with only the Cup race being known as a "big" race, this will be the first time in recent memory that a famed track and big race has gone from hosting just Cup cars to sharing it with the NNS.

Cars hit the track starting on Thursday, July 26th when the NNS hits the track for the very first time in practice. When they do it will bring many questions, which will only be answered throughout the weekend.

But ...

What if w/Nationwide now at Indy & if they start kissing the bricks, will it change your view of the prestige of the Cup race there?


@Talon64 yes, but only because the Cup guys would get Nationwide's sloppy seconds on the brick kiss.

@mrheadrick No. Has the prestige of Daytona been tarnished by multiple series running there? The whole #Indycar split several years ago killed the prestige of Indy in my eyes.

@dustin_n_va No not at all any win at indy is prestigious

@JoJo_6040 Yep, but I'm sure the winner will since it's a tradition for cup. Now you have me curious haha. Wish they kept nns at orp.

Tuesday, July 10th 'What If' Question

Before the green flag in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400 at Daytona there had already been plenty of headlines made.

There was Austin Dillon defending his Kentucky win after a failed inspection, Brian France delivering his state of the sport address and saying there would be no mandatory cautions as Bruton Smith suggested. There was Danica Patrick in a way calling her shot to win before Dillon won the pole and again failed inspection.

Matt Kenseth, going for the Daytona sweep, started it off right by winning the Cup pole. While eventual winner Tony Stewart failed post qualifying because of the same reason Dillon did. Kurt Busch went out and won a wild Nationwide Series race for James Finch and Joey Logano became the latest driver to fail inspection.

On Saturday, in what is normally a lazy day before the Cup race that evening, was anything but. Kevin Harvick flew wife DeLana back home to NC in order to rest before the birth of their first child. Son Keelan would be born the next morning. Austin Dillon thought he might get behind the wheel of the No. 29 until NASCAR nixed that idea, so Kenny Wallace was put on standby.

Bobby Bowden came into the media centered and entertained everyone, while Train rocked out on the frontstretch for the fans. Then came the biggest news of the entire weekend, seemingly out of nowhere.

At 6:00 p.m. ET NASCAR's senior vice president of racing, Steve O'Donnell, walked into the media center to announce that Penske Racing driver AJ Allmendinger had been suspended because of a failed drug test. He had been chosen as the random driver a week before in Kentucky and his "A" sample came back positive.

Sam Hornish Jr. flew back to Daytona from Charlotte, NC to pilot the No. 22 in the race. And since then the talk has been all about Allmendinger. Even though there was Stewart winning his fourth Daytona race in the last eight attempt, as well as the numerous penalties handed down on Tuesday after the infractions found in inspection.

Dillon will now be without his crew chief and car chief for two weeks and lost another six points in the owner and driver standings, Adam Stevens and the car chief of the No. 18 in the NNS was fine and put on probation as well as lost six owner points. And Stewart lost six driver/owner points while his crew chief and car chief were both placed on probation.

Yet, it all went in one ear and out the other. It's all about Allmendinger right now. Speculation has run wild from what caused the failed test, to whether he intentionally  took something, and of course, whether he'll ever be back behind the wheel.

As of Wednesday, Allmendinger was waiting on the results of his "B" sample while he camp released a statement that he had tested positive for a stimulant. What the stimulant was is still a guess, but Allmendinger was said to be going through all his medications and supplements to determine what could have caused the failed test.

With Allmendinger working with NASCAR to determine what has gone on while waiting on the results of his "B" sample, Hornish will again drive the No. 22 this weekend at New Hampshire. Everyone else is left offering their own opinions and theories.

But ...

What if there were no AJ Allmendinger suspension, what would be the big story and have us all talking after Daytona?


@mattwoodruff29 The Harvick's having there first child and the penalties from Daytona.

@HarpAmyStabler 2 complete green flag pit cycles and the outside line not being able to go. No pack drafting excitement 4 passing ... My dad, son, and I were all at the NNS and cup race. NNS race was exciting and fun all the way through .... The cup race was boring and we struggled to stay awake there until lap 120. Shouldn't be that way ... Dad and I have been going to Daytona since 2004 and loved it. We'll go again, but the racing has gotten progressively worse with the exception of the tandem racing. I remember the 1st to 30th & back to 1st in a few laps back in 2004-2008. That was fun for the pack drafting. Bring back tandems if it's not going 2 improve ... I thought that it was sad how sparse the midway & souvie trailer area was. Econ=bad. :(

@NancyatStudioN The big story would be the Army leaving SHR. It could open a whole can of worms. Will the National Guard leave Jr? And why are they paying so much more than Army paid SHR? If Ryan can't get a sponsor to stay there, where will he go? He can't go back to Penske  and can't go to Roush without a sponsor. In fact, can he go anywhere if he can't bring a sponsor? And, will Kurt get a sponsor and take it to SHR? After all, Tony said he'd hire him in a heartbeat.


@DonRohr reason the midway is sparse is because of the heat, the cost, and the ROI in July. overflowing in February ... I thought the race itself was just fine. decent beginning, filling in the middle and balls out at the end

@JoJo_6040 The pack v tandem or Sprint v Nationwide races. I kinda like the combo of pack and tandem. :)