Less than two weeks after announcing their plans for 2010, we are hearing Kyle Busch Motorsports has snagged longtime Truck Series crew chief Eric Phillips. Phillips is expected to take over duties for the #18 truck driven by Kyle Busch and Brian Ickler.
Phillips joins KBM from Randy Moss Motorsports (formally Morgan-Dollar Motorsports) where he [...]
We’ve got a Christmas edition of ATIW for your reading pleasure this week. It’s short and sweet, but the questions are good. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” [...]
Following the 2008 season, Journo and myself wrote a series of posts that covered all the major teams in the Cup Series. We looked at where they had been in 2008 and where they were going in 2009. The posts contained some predictions for the 2009 season, with some [...]
The single biggest problem facing NASCAR teams that want to continue being NASCAR teams is the search for, acquisition of, and retention of sponsors. Without them, we don’t get to go play on the weekends. But as the economy continues to struggle, this proposition has become much more difficult.
Just this [...]
I apologize for the delay in getting this post up. We had some Internet connectivity issues last night that prevented me from posting. Thanks!
There are some drivers out there, who no matter what they drive, always seem to not get enough racing. A name that comes to mind is a [...]
After a short hiatus, “Ask The Insiders Wednesday” returns for the 51st version. We’ve got a big batch of questions, so lets get right to it. If you don’t know what this post is, we answer any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if you’ve got one, click on the [...]
After a nice (but brief) vacation, both myself and Journo are returning to action this week. As Journo said last week, we are going to cut down our posting frequency during the off-season to a post for Monday, Ask The Insiders on Wednesday, a post for Friday, and the Saturday links [...]
The last race of the season is upon us. Come Sunday night, the 2009 season will be over. But what won’t end, is Ask The Insiders Wednesday. We’ve got our 50th batch of questions and answers for you. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we [...]
You may not realize it, but while the 2009 season still isn’t officially over yet, preparations for 2010 have already begun. One area that teams will spend the last few races working on, is changes to their pit crews.
To the untrained eye, it may appear to be business as usual [...]
Following another run-in with Brad Keselowski during Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Phoenix, Dave Burns of ESPN asked Denny Hamlin if NASCAR needed to get involved. Hamlin responded: “No, no, I’ll take care of him. It’s no biggy. I got him.”
Anybody else looking forward to this situation heading to Homestead?
In his ascension [...]
I get asked all the time by family and friends about the constant travel that is necessary to be apart of the sport we call NASCAR. People always want to know where I’m going and how we get there. It’s a topic I explored in a post I wrote last summer here [...]
All three series have one more trip out West for the year. While the haulers make the long trek to Phoenix, we’ve got another question and answer post for you. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions [...]
And then there were two.
Phoenix and Homestead are the only two remaining races before we put the 2009 season in the books. And I’ve got to say, I’m a little bummed.
This time of year is always a little bitter sweet for me. I know there are a ton of guys [...]
I’m coming to this party a little late, but after what I read earlier today, I have to say something.
On Saturday, during the pre-race show for the Truck Series race on SPEED, the broadcast crew which includes Rick Allen, Phil Parsons, Michael Waltrip, Adam Alexander, Ray Dunlap, and Krista Voda, [...]
And then there were three. Texas, Phoenix, and Homestead are the last remaining races on the 2009 schedule before we put it in the record books. But before we start the home stretch, we’ve got more of your questions and our somewhat educated answers. If you don’t know what this post is, until [...]
It seems this season that no matter what NASCAR does in terms of competition, they get it wrong. Today’s race at Talladega was yet another example.
During the pre-race drivers meeting, NASCAR informed the drivers that they would not tolerate overly aggressive driving and bump drafting in the corners. Violators would [...]
Talk about bad timing. On the day that rumors surface about Best Buy moving from Elliott Sadler’s #19 to the #43 with AJ Allmendinger for 2010, the news comes out regarding Allmendinger and a DWI charge. At the time of this post, AJ has since apologized in a statement and [...]
Apparently everyone is in a question asking mood, because we have (I believe) the largest ATIW post ever. So we’ll just get right to it. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if you’ve [...]
First off, I just want to thank everyone who stopped by and gave us feedback on our “The State of TNI post.” We aren’t looking at any major changes, but we wanted to get a gauge from you on what you thought we were doing right and wrong. Know [...]
We’ve got a good batch of questions for you this week, and many from some new names which is great to see! Remember, there are no stupid questions here, and even if we’ve answered a question in the past, we will answer it again. If you don’t know what this [...]
As we near the end of the season, and what some are already predicting could be a fourth straight championship for Jimmie Johnson, it seems the negative feelings toward driver 48 are growing. Some have even hinted that Johnson’s dominance is to blame for the decline in ratings and attendance [...]
In other sports, home games happen just as often as away games. But racing is different. We spend almost the entire season at away games. The sport as a whole only gets two home weekends a year; the 600 weekend in May and the October night race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Both offer a welcome respite [...]
I’m going to go on a rant here, so I apologize in advance, but this is something that has bothered me since I started as a tire changer. When young guys finally get their first opportunities to jack, carry, and change they usually end up on Truck Series and some [...]
It’s a home game this week, as both the Nationwide and Cup cars take to the 1.5 mile Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord. But while the season starts winding to a close, ATIW keeps chugging along. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering [...]
It was announced on Thursday that Yates Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports will merge for 2010 and that the new team will race Fords. This new team owned by the Gilletts, Richard Petty, Ray Evernham, Boston Ventures, Doug Yates, and Max Jones (whoa) will campaign four teams with drivers Kasey [...]
Thanks to the long holiday weekend, we now have a short week. In just a few days, both the Nationwide and Cup cars will race under the lights at Richmond, while the Truck Series heads to Gateway International Raceway. Before that happens though, we’ve got more questions and answers. If [...]
If the rumors are true about Danica Patrick, then her choice to run a partial Nationwide, Truck, and ARCA schedule while still running the complete IRL schedule in 2010 is the safest thing she could do. It leaves her an out if she cannot figure out how to be successful [...]
Maybe I’m giving people too much credit here, but I continue to be shocked by the fact that NASCAR has again busted more crew members with the new drug testing. In case you missed it, they nabbed three more guys recently, including former ASA and short track ace Gary St. Amant. [...]
Don’t worry people, you are only three days away from a long holiday weekend! It will be a week of firsts, as this will be the first Labor Day weekend race at Atlanta and the first ever Truck Series race at Iowa Speedway. But this isn’t the first Ask The [...]
I’m sorry, they just weren’t. After what happened last year at Montreal, and the debacle that took place on Sunday at the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve, NASCAR needs to take a serious look at getting rid of racing in the rain.
There are some that disagree with me, and believe that [...]
Once people figure out what I do for a living (you know, changing tires in big time auto racing), there are always the same usual questions. One that I get asked on a fairly regular basis by friends, acquaintances, and family members is if and when I ever did or will take [...]
The Cup Series is off this weekend, but there will be no shortage of racing to watch. The Truck Series takes on Chicago, while the Nationwide cars head north of the border to the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. If you don’t know what this post is, until further [...]
Each week when we set up on pit road for the race, we’ve got two neighbors. One on each side. Most pit stalls, both over the wall and behind the wall, are clearly marked. Everybody gets about the same amount of real estate. And in being neighbors, you try and [...]
Doesn’t it seem lately that many of the moves made by NASCAR have dollar signs attached to them in terms of the teams? Let me briefly give you a few examples: Why develop the COT? Safety and cost savings. Why only allow five over the wall in the Truck Series? [...]
With a wild weekend of racing at Michigan in the rearview, we are looking ahead to another possibly wild weekend of action at Bristol. While we wait for the weekend to arrive, we’ve got another round of questions and answers for you. If you don’t know what this post is, [...]
One of the bigger story lines of the 2009 season has been the downfall of Richard Childress Racing. After putting all three teams into the Chase in 2008, only Clint Bowyer appears to have a shot at a Chase berth for 2009. With only a few races left before the [...]
Although that would be really nice, it just isn’t true. There was a piece written by Dustin Long that came out on Monday that revealed some numbers about a specific crew member’s pay. And while numbers like these are a reality for some, it certainly isn’t the standard.
Former Roush Fenway [...]
From the Finger Lakes of New York, NASCAR moves to the Irish Hills of Michigan this week. The Cup and NNS cars will take to the two mile Michigan International Speedway on Saturday and Sunday. But following another Monday race, we’ve got more answers for your questions. If you don’t know [...]
We’ve all seen it happen. From the Friday night local short track race all the way to the Daytona 500. One driver gets wrecked; then he gets mad; then he gets even. But when does one driver retaliating against another driver go too far?
I know I’m going to get blasted [...]
Since we are at a road course this week, I thought this would be the perfect time to bring up the NASCAR road course debate. Some people, both inside and outside the sport, say they need to be eliminated from the schedule all together. I personally think we need to [...]
This is a post we ran last year about this time, and because we are racing at Watkins Glen this weekend, we thought it would be fun to revisit this topic. Enjoy!
I have…
The Nationwide and Cup Series are heading north this weekend to the Finger Lakes region of New York [...]
It’s a short week for the Cup guys following the Monday race at Pocono. This weekend, both the Nationwide and Cup Series travel to the Finger Lakes region of New York to race at the road course in Watkins Glen. But before we head north to turn left and right, we’ve got more reader questions. [...]
With all that has happened this year, one storyline that has seemingly been lost in the shuffle a bit is the situation at Team Red Bull. Another “we’re getting closer” story about Red Bull’s plans for 2010 and beyond appeared over the weekend on NASCAR.com. We didn’t learn anything [...]
In a recent piece on SceneDaily.com, Kyle Busch discussed his interest in being a team owner in one of NASCAR’s top series “down the road.” From what we are hearing, “down the road” might mean 2010.
There have been rumors in the past about Kyle Busch either buying out current [...]
With the Cup cars being off last Sunday, we’ve got a very light edition of ATIW this week. As always, thanks to those that do send in questions. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if [...]
Something that has always bugged me about NASCAR and racing in general, is that if you have a boat load of cash you can race at the highest levels regardless of how talented you are. In the other major professional sports, only the best of the best ever actually make [...]
I’m not sure if you saw this little tidbit today, but amid the endless Mayfield talk and the announcement from Roush Fenway Racing that DeWalt would not return as a sponsor next year, was Jimmy Spencer floating the rumor that Earnhardt Ganassi Racing may somehow merge next season with Joe [...]
With the Cup cars being off last Sunday, we’ve got a very light edition of ATIW this week. As always, thanks to those that do send in questions. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if [...]
Recently here at TNI, you’ve seen us profile a few young drivers and some driver development programs. It seems that because of some of the topics dominating the current headlines that the young, upstart drivers often have their stories pushed to the back burner. And it’s these younger guys that need the exposure as they are suffering the most [...]
One of the many problems facing NASCAR going forward is what to do with the Nationwide Series. In recent years it has become a Saturday playground for Cup drivers, and because of this, the series’ developmental mentality and identity have gone away. What was once a place for young drivers to [...]
In case you haven’t heard, Jeremy Mayfield has again tested positive for methamphetamines. Jenna Fryer from the Associated Press broke the story about 30 minutes ago. See it here.
After we wrote about Mayfield on two separate occasions (here and here), some pretty serious discussion developed with the [...]
We are half way through another week in the 2009 season. The Cup cars are off this weekend, but the Nationwide Series and Trucks will be on track, as is this 32nd edition of ATIW. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all [...]
If you don’t know who she is or haven’t heard the name, don’t worry, you will.
We get asked on a fairly regular basis about the prospects for a female racer to break into the upper levels of NASCAR, and I thought I would take this opportunity to point out a [...]
So now that the worst kept secret of the 2009 season is out, that Martin Truex Jr. is leaving Earnhardt Ganassi Racing for Michael Waltrip Rass Racing, it seems the popular thing to do is to pile on EGR and its future as an organization.
Following the announcement by MWR and [...]
While he is off doing some Yahoo! Sports blogger stuff, Jay Busbee featured this post and a few of our more popular questions today on his blog, From the Marbles. Thanks Jay! In case you don’t already, stop by his site, he updates throughout the day and always has [...]
I know I’m going way out on a limb here, seeing as how he is the current points leader and most recent race winner, but I’m calling right now that Tony Stewart will win the 2009 Cup Series championship. How could I possibly do such a thing with 18 races [...]
So unless you live under a rock (which I’m guessing you don’t, because you are reading this blog post), you know that Joey Logano picked up his first Cup Series win last Sunday at New Hampshire. The #20 Toyota was certainly not the best car and Logano actually got two [...]
It’s hard to believe, but this is the 30th edition of ATIW! We’ve got another full slate of questions to get to, so I will save the babbling for the answers. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions [...]
There was a small-ish story line from this weekend that most of the media ignored, but that some of the fans certainly noticed. When qualifying was rained out for the Cup cars on Friday, the #64 Gunselman Motorsports car (to be driven by Mike Wallace) withdrew for unspecified reasons. They [...]
I love racing. And when I say that, I mean I LOVE racing. There aren’t too many things that make me as happy as I am when I’m at the track. I look forward all week to the weekends and getting back to competition. And I know how lucky I [...]
As the summer continues to roll along, we have reached the 29th edition of Ask The Insiders Wednesday. These posts continue to gain in popularity every week, and I’ve been told by many of you that ATIW is what you look forward to the most. That’s great to hear, and [...]
So I returned from another busy weekend of racing to discover (thanks to the Internet) what many in the NASCAR media have been fronting for weeks; that all of NASCAR is finally starting to implode! OH MY GOD! WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE! SAVE YOURSELVES! EVERYBODY PANIC!!!
A quick look around the Internet [...]
No matter how hard it tries to shake the stigma, it seems that some people still look at NASCAR and its fans as Confederate Flag waving, racist rednecks from the South. This most recent incident involving Brendan Gaughan’s crew chief Bryan Berry and African American driver Marc Davis has brought all of [...]
Since the Cup cars will be turning left AND right this week on the road course in Sonoma, I figured we’d take a strange turn of our own here to start out Ask The Insiders Wednesday. The much talked about “guyliner” question kicks off edition #28. If you don’t know what [...]
Over the last few weeks the emails and comments from our readers have taken a decidedly negative turn. We’ve certainly had more comments and emails then ever before, which is great, it just seems that many of you are very, very angry about NASCAR right now. And I don’t know [...]
People.
Just like any other sport on this planet, the basis of NASCAR is the people involved. The only real difference between NASCAR and other sports being the means in which the competition happens. In one, it’s guys chasing around a while ball trying to hit it the fewest times possible. In another it’s [...]
We’ve got a ton of questions this week, so I’ll just get right into it. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” [...]
There has been much speculation over the last several weeks regarding where Martin Truex Jr. will race in 2010 and beyond. This speculation has been fueled mostly by Truex’s own comments on a possible move, which started at the Talladega race in April. The turmoil surrounding the DEI/CGR merger, [...]
In light of today’s announcement that starting this weekend at Pocono NASCAR will make all restarts double file, I thought it might be fun to get some of your thoughts on what else you would change or add to competition. It sounds as though many people are happy NASCAR made [...]
The big three NASCAR series all shared the same track this last weekend in Dover, but they all split up this weekend. The Truck Series is in Texas, the Nationwide cars take to Nashville, and the Cup cars head to Pocono. But before the weekend kicks off, it’s question and [...]
The struggles of some teams on pit road this season have been well documented, as have some of the problems facing the crews this season with regard to some different rules and a shift in the competition. With that you will often hear the TV people talking about all the pressure [...]
After a monster weekend of weather in Charlotte, all three of NASCAR’s top series now head to the Monster Mile at Dover, DE. While teams prepare for the weekend ahead, we’ve got our 25th edition of reader questions and answer to get into. If you don’t know what this post [...]
At the start of 2009, the outlook for NASCAR and its teams was bleak. The economy was tanking and people were talking about the possibility of less then 43 cars showing up at California and beyond. Then a funny thing happened. Where team contraction and minimal sponsorship had created holes [...]
Really Carl Long? Too many cubic inches? At what point did you really think that was a good idea? There is “working in the gray areas,” and then there is cheating. What Long did was about as blatant as cheating gets.
In case you have no idea what I’m talking about, Carl [...]
We saw plenty of action during the first weekend of racing in Charlotte. Hopefully we will see more of the same this weekend for the Nationwide and Cup races. But unil the cars hit the track, we’ve got another round of your questions to answer. If you don’t know what this post is, [...]
This weekend’s Coke 600 at Charlotte marks the end of a five week southern swing of races. The stretch included stops at Talladega, Richmond, Darlington, and Lowes; all being within about a six hour drive from Charlotte. These races close to home allow the teams to regroup and prepare for the busy [...]
Got a NASCAR question? We’ve got answers. Maybe. It’s the first Wednesday of race weeks here in Charlotte, and because it’s Wednesday, that means we’ve got more of your questions to answer. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right [...]
Since this whole Jeremy Mayfield mess came to light last Friday, I’ve debated whether or not I wanted to comment about the situation. We’ve already written about the drug situation and testing here, here, and here. The third link in that list points to a post where I basically said [...]
This may come as a shock to some of you, but I too was once just a race fan. I looked forward every year to the maybe one or two races I’d get to attend and I would show up to the track wearing my allegiances proudly. So as you [...]
We’ve made it to another Wednesday, this one the first of May, and that means more reader questions and answers. If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here. So if you’ve got one, click on the ”[...]
With Richmond in the rear view, we now focus our attention this week to night racing at Darlington. The Nationwide Series will again race on Friday night, with the Cup cars taking to the “Lady in Black” on Saturday night. And I can’t wait.
The 2009 season marks the 60th year [...]
If you are a regular to TNI, and you spend time in the comment section of posts, one name you have no doubt seen is that of Neon. He comments regularly, and always has smart and informed things to say about what we write. A few weeks back, Neon sent [...]
It has certainly been a strange week leading up to edition #21. We saw Brad Keselowski triumph in a Cup race, Mike Skinner win a rain shortened race on a Monday, and we lost a pillar of the sport in David Poole. Night racing at Richmond awaits us this weekend, but until [...]
It came out last week that following the Cup race at Talladega, Casey Mears and Kevin Harvick’s teams would completely switch places. Everyone from the crew chief to the transporter driver would swap. The only remaining pieces would be the drivers and their spotters. So Todd Berrier and Co. will [...]
It seems as though at a certain point each year, for the past few years anyway, we invariably get into the “will Danica move to NASCAR” debate. In the past she’s been pretty quick to brush the talk aside, but now something has changed.
This is a post I’ve been thinking [...]
After we reported on Monday about serious problems at Trail Motorsports, including employees not being paid and the organization’s lack of equipment, the team’s future now appears to be even more in doubt. When the entry list for this weekend’s Truck Series race at Kansas came out on Monday, Chase Austin [...]
We’ve made it to the 20th edition of Ask the Insiders Wednesday! All three NASCAR series are in action this week with the Trucks at Kansas, and Nationwide and Cup at Talladega. But until they get after it, we’ll get into another round of reader questions. If you don’t know [...]
When I get some free time during the day, I try and bounce around the Internet and see what other folks are writing about NASCAR. I think part of being a good blogger is being well read and up to date on what everyone else is talking about.
While making my [...]
I’ve gotten quite a few emails and have had several “Ask The Insiders” questions over the last few weeks regarding all the issues surrounding the lug nut problems and the new stud length. I’m sure I will continue to get more emails and questions, but I thought I’d dedicate a [...]
The Nationwide Series took center stage on Saturday with a Music City Showdown that saw Joe Nemechek go for a wild ride, and ended with Joey Logano hoisting the Gibson guitar. This week the “Valley of the Sun” plays host to NASCAR’s top two series. But before they get it going under the [...]
If you’ve ever worked in the sport or have had the opportunity to get a pit pass for a race, you’ve no doubt encountered the overzealous track security guard. You know, they are the guys (and gals) positioned at various points throughout the track who have been tasked to make [...]
I can’t believe it. Today, April 9th, 2009 is the first birthday for TNI. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were putting our first couple of posts up and hoping that a few folks would somehow find us and stop by. Now, one year later we’ve written [...]
Well I did.
Don’t believe me? Click here for a post I wrote last July about Stewart becoming half owner of then Haas CNC Racing. At the time, there was a lot of talk that Tony Stewart may never win another race, and that he may be ruining his career. [...]
So Kurt Busch got mad about his racecar at Martinsville and called Roger Penske “dude” on the radio. Who cares? Sometimes that kind of stuff happens on the radio. And you know what? It’s perfectly, 100% okay that it does.
By allowing the fans, media, and others to listen to the radio [...]
As I write this post, the #88 Jr. Motorsports Nationwide Series team is scrambling to get their backup car ready for Saturday’s race at Texas. Following a promising 12th place run at Bristol two weeks ago, Brad Keselowski promptly went out tonight in qualifying and put his Chevy Impala in [...]
Mother Nature nearly drowned NASCAR at Martinsville, but the sun came out Sunday and Monday, and we saw some great racing. Now, we’ve given Monday and Tuesday a Jimmie Johnson/Kevin Harvick-style bump and run pass, and we make it to Wednesday and more reader questions. If you don’t know what this post is, until [...]
