Leave it to Greg Biffle to present a real-world analogy to a NASCAR issue.
On Friday, Biffle was asked how he thought team owner Jack Roush would respond if teammate Carl Edwards announced he was leaving the organization at the end of the year but still had some racing left with the team.
Biffle's reply: "It’s obvious that it’s coming to a head, kind of like whether we’re gonna approve the debt ceiling or not. At some point he’s gonna have to say that I’m not coming back. He’s not gonna be able to wait until Homestead, we all know that, so Carl is a big boy, he’s a man and he has to make his own decisions.
"Eventually, he’s gonna have to make a decision and it’ll be best for everybody so, one, we can plan for sponsorships and drivers and teams and people. There are a lot of people’s jobs on the line – if we’re gonna be three teams or four teams – so the sooner the better. I understand contract negotiations take a long time and there is a lot to them, but truly if you know or you’ve made a decision, then it’s time to give everybody enough opportunity to make their decision on the back side of that.”
Biffle admitted he has been in a similar position in his career with Roush on contract talks but always felt he left everyone know as soon as he reached a decision.
"It’s tough, but one thing I always did is when I knew what I was doing, then I said, ‘This is what I’m gonna do,' " he said. "You can’t have a deal done or plan to have a deal done and not let everybody know, so that it’s fair for everyone to go make a plan on what’s next.”
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Pastrana NASCAR debut gets scrubbed
INDIANAPOLIS - The much-hyped “Pastranathon” - Travis Pastrana’s whirlwind weekend of competing in the X Games and making his debut Saturday in the NASCAR Nationwide series - has been put on hiatus.
While competing in the best trick event Thursday night in the X Games in Los Angeles, Pastrana fractured his right foot and ankle when his attempt at completing a “720” went awry and he crashed on landing.
The trick features two backflips on a motorcycle and one spin.
In a statement to ESPN early Friday morning after having X-rays at a Los Angeles hospital, Pastrana said, “I am sorry this happened and will be back in action as soon as I can. I look forward to Pastranathon 2012 at X Games 18.”
While competing in the best trick event Thursday night in the X Games in Los Angeles, Pastrana fractured his right foot and ankle when his attempt at completing a “720” went awry and he crashed on landing.
The trick features two backflips on a motorcycle and one spin.
ESPN, which is broadcasting the X Games, reported Pastrana will require surgery for his injuries.
Early Friday, the Pastrana Waltrip Racing team withdrew its entry from Saturday night’s Kroger 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Clermont, Ind. Pastrana’s next scheduled Nationwide race is Sept. 9 at Richmond, Va.
In a statement to ESPN early Friday morning after having X-rays at a Los Angeles hospital, Pastrana said, “I am sorry this happened and will be back in action as soon as I can. I look forward to Pastranathon 2012 at X Games 18.”
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Dale Jarrett's take on Dale Jr.
Former Sprint Cup Series champion and ESPN analyst Dale Jarrett - like most in NASCAR - believed Dale Earnhardt Jr. was on the verge of winning any week. He, too, has been surprised with Earnhardt's struggles over the past five races, which has seen him slip to ninth in points and still without a victory.
Jarrett was asked on Tuesday's ESPN conference call about where Earnhardt's chances to make the Chase now stand entering Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"I thought five weeks ago, six weeks ago, that I was seeing Junior and his race team prepared to go to Victory Lane. I really thought that they were making strides and gains each week. Exactly what's happened over the last four or five weeks? You get in a slump as a race team, just like a hitter in baseball or something. It's hard to get out of because you're not exactly sure where to put your finger and try to turn things around," he said.
"It would be beneficial sport to have the most popular driver be a part of the Chase and get in that mix and challenge for wins. Nobody is going to make that happen, it's that race team that has to do it. It sure would be beneficial. Whether it's Boston and the Yankees playing - it's always a big attraction. We have our biggest star, the person the fans choose as the most popular driver, and that's Dale Jr. Hopefully, they can get that turned around. This is a difficult race track when you're struggling to get things turned around. They are going to have to right their ship very quickly."
Jarrett was asked on Tuesday's ESPN conference call about where Earnhardt's chances to make the Chase now stand entering Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"I thought five weeks ago, six weeks ago, that I was seeing Junior and his race team prepared to go to Victory Lane. I really thought that they were making strides and gains each week. Exactly what's happened over the last four or five weeks? You get in a slump as a race team, just like a hitter in baseball or something. It's hard to get out of because you're not exactly sure where to put your finger and try to turn things around," he said.
"It would be beneficial sport to have the most popular driver be a part of the Chase and get in that mix and challenge for wins. Nobody is going to make that happen, it's that race team that has to do it. It sure would be beneficial. Whether it's Boston and the Yankees playing - it's always a big attraction. We have our biggest star, the person the fans choose as the most popular driver, and that's Dale Jr. Hopefully, they can get that turned around. This is a difficult race track when you're struggling to get things turned around. They are going to have to right their ship very quickly."
Jeff Burton gets new crew chief
Richard Childress Racing announced on Monday that Luke Lambert has been named interim crew chief for RCR's No. 31 Chevrolet team with driver Jeff Burton in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Lambert replaces veteran crew chief Todd Berrier.
"Todd has been an important part of RCR's success for many years," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "He is still employed and under contract and his role with RCR will be determined in the near future."
Berrier has been an RCR employee since 1994. This will be Lambert's first stint as a Cup crew chief. The 28-year-old has been with RCR since September 2005. He was named a team engineer for the No. 31 program in 2008. He is a 2005 graduate of N.C. State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering.
"Todd has been an important part of RCR's success for many years," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of RCR. "He is still employed and under contract and his role with RCR will be determined in the near future."
Berrier has been an RCR employee since 1994. This will be Lambert's first stint as a Cup crew chief. The 28-year-old has been with RCR since September 2005. He was named a team engineer for the No. 31 program in 2008. He is a 2005 graduate of N.C. State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Brickyard ticket sales bad?
There have been rumors that ticket sales for next week's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway were again off-pace from last season, but an internal NASCAR memo obtained by ThatsRacin.com and The Observer seems to confirm the problem.
In the memo, which was distributed by email on Friday, team public relations representatives were thanked ahead of time for their drivers' participation in a Sprint Cup Series autograph session at the track.
The memo said, "ticket sales are significantly behind from previous years" at IMS. Since sales have been dramatically down since the 2008 tire problems at the track, another significant decline would appear ominous.
The memo goes on to say, the track believed there would be a large walk-up crowd for the July 31 race and hoped the autograph session would be well received by race fans.
In the memo, which was distributed by email on Friday, team public relations representatives were thanked ahead of time for their drivers' participation in a Sprint Cup Series autograph session at the track.
The memo said, "ticket sales are significantly behind from previous years" at IMS. Since sales have been dramatically down since the 2008 tire problems at the track, another significant decline would appear ominous.
The memo goes on to say, the track believed there would be a large walk-up crowd for the July 31 race and hoped the autograph session would be well received by race fans.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Manion statement on NASCAR penalties in Modified series
On Wednesday, NASCAR disqualified the No. 7NY team owned by Sprint Cup Series crew chief Kevin "Bono" Manion, which won last weekend's Whelen Modified Series race at New Hampshire with driver Ryan Newman.
The team's crew chief and Manion were both suspended from competition in any NASCAR regional touring series until Dec. 31. Newman and Manion's entry in the race was disqualified.
Wednesday night a statement was released by Manion, who serves as crew chief for Cup driver Jamie McMurray:
“I had no intention to ruin my or my team’s reputations or put a black eye on the NWMT in any way, shape or manner,” explained Manion. “It was never anyone’s intent to cheat. We have won numerous races with the No. 7NY and Ryan and have been through and passed inspection for each of them. Unfortunately, the penalties were a result of circumstances beyond our control. Everyone on our team has won NWMT races in the past and never did anything of this magnitude while racing full-time in the series.
“With that being said, though we don’t like or agree with the severity of the penalty, we accept the penalty that NASCAR has given out to us. We will still give back to the modified series as it gave us so many years of experience in order for us to do what we do today. We will try to win more races and bring more fans from the Cup fan base to crossover to the NWMT.”
The team's crew chief and Manion were both suspended from competition in any NASCAR regional touring series until Dec. 31. Newman and Manion's entry in the race was disqualified.
Wednesday night a statement was released by Manion, who serves as crew chief for Cup driver Jamie McMurray:
“I had no intention to ruin my or my team’s reputations or put a black eye on the NWMT in any way, shape or manner,” explained Manion. “It was never anyone’s intent to cheat. We have won numerous races with the No. 7NY and Ryan and have been through and passed inspection for each of them. Unfortunately, the penalties were a result of circumstances beyond our control. Everyone on our team has won NWMT races in the past and never did anything of this magnitude while racing full-time in the series.
“With that being said, though we don’t like or agree with the severity of the penalty, we accept the penalty that NASCAR has given out to us. We will still give back to the modified series as it gave us so many years of experience in order for us to do what we do today. We will try to win more races and bring more fans from the Cup fan base to crossover to the NWMT.”
Monday, July 18, 2011
Allmendinger gets new crew chief
Richard Petty Motorsports officials announced on Monday that Greg Erwin is the new crew chief for its No. 43 Sprint Cup Series team and driver AJ Allmendinger. Erwin replaces Mike Shiplett.
“When one door closes, another one opens and this is great example of that,” said Erwin. “I couldn’t be happier to have found a new home at Richard Petty Motorsports. To work with Richard Petty and lead the iconic No. 43 team is a great opportunity for me. AJ Allmendinger has shown that he has a great deal of talent and I’m excited to have the chance to get the No. 43 team back to Victory Lane.”
“Mike and I have been together for a long time, so from a personal standpoint this is difficult for me,” said Allmendinger. "We’ve worked really well together and I think our personalities really complemented each other.
"Mike and I both came into this year really committed to working on our weaker areas. I know we both tried our best to be better and communicate better - I couldn’t have asked for either of us to try any harder. Sometimes though, you need to take a step back and have a new perspective or new set of eyes look at things to move to the next level."
Prior to joining Richard Petty Motorsports, Erwin served as crew chief position with the No. 16 team at Roush Fenway Racing and driver Greg Biffle. Erwin joined that team in May 2007 and during his tenure at RFR, led Biffle to five victories, 36 top-five and 66 top-10 finishes. Erwin’s team made the Chase for the Cup three times.
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