July 16, 2008
By Chuck Abrams
What a week. I am traveling, trying to work and stay on top of the Chicago race here in sunny LA, stay on top of the Stewart story, the emerging Newman story and make sure my family knows I am still alive as we burn the midnight oil to keep America safe – OK the last part is not so true. We are burning the midnight oil just to keep capitalism safe.
Anyway, the Chicago race was boring at times and exciting at times.
The exciting parts were the restarts and the racing that was going on behind the leaders – whenever you got to see that part. For a lot of the broadcast you did not see racing, you saw Kyle Busch going in circles. That was not racing. That was a lot of qualifying laps. Racing is when multiple cars are racing each other for position. Someone ought to let the network in on that little secret. People pay good money to see what I have heard.
What by now should not be a surprise to anyone, Kyle Busch went on to win the race as challengers faltered throughout the night.
It is readily apparent that the new car (here I go again) is just as sensitive to aero as the old car. Safety – A. Racing – D. As soon as a car is in clean air, it just sets sail. Plus, it is painfully obvious that the Toyota engine is making some serious horsepower.
Combine that with the fact that Shrub can flat out drive and his crew chief has something figured out on the set up sensitive new car and you have what may be the best season for a driver since 1998 when Jeff Gordon won 13 races tying the King’s magical feat (in the modern era). With 17 races left in the season, it surely seems possible he could win another six.
Shrub has also opened up a nearly 300-point lead over the closest drivers (Earnhardt and Burton) making a joke of the rest of the field. Of course, there are seven races to go before the Chase starts, so that will change – probably more – unless the racing gods change their minds about young Kyle. The Brickyard 400 is looming and if he can win that race, I see little standing in his way throughout the rest of the year. Winning that race will be a testament to just how good this team really is.
OK, now onto the rest of the Cup news -- not Busch related.
Smoke announces he is going to join Hass racing. No big news there I guess. Good for him, though. The sport is constantly evolving and this is a step in the right direction. Instead of outside investors coming in, Hass is choosing to leverage an awesome driver in attracting new revenue and building from within the racing community. Not for every team, but I love this move. If he brings on Ryan Newman or another top-notch driver, this team could be poised to show the rest of the garage how it is done.
Stewart is obviously planning his escape from drivers seat and I for one can’t wait to see him as a team owner and taking it to NASCAR.
With Newman leaving Penske, the bigger question is who will fill his seat in 2010? Mears? Stremme? While both capable drivers, neither excites me. I would also think that sponsors will be in that same camp. Mears has yet to prove he is a top 15 driver capable of being a threat to win any given race.
Stremme has gotten a few raw deals for sure, but he has never been a threat at any top NASCAR level. Penske needs a top driver to complement Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish, Jr. I think Hornish will continue to struggle next year and Busch has not been much of a threat this year. Silly season is far from over and I think Roger Penske will (should) be looking for more than Mears or Stremme can deliver.
Those are my quick thoughts on the week. Let me know yours. I got a plane to catch.
Drive fast, turn left and keep the shiny side up.
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