Elwood: It's 49 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, a four tire change, it's dark, and we're wearing a #$@%$ HANS device.
Jake: Hit it.
Blues Brothers humor not withstanding, there isn’t a more generic track on the NASCAR circuit than Chicagoland Speedway described by the SpeedTV broadcast crew as being, “much like Michigan but only 1 ½ miles long not 2 miles. Face it, the move to new tracks in Fontana, California, Kansas City, Chicagoland and elsewhere has robbed race fans of some wonderful race track diversification with the older tracks pushed off or reduced from the schedule – one night date at Darlington in May, Rockingham and North Wilkesboro – gone. Given the Joliet, Illinois race is now a night race, it has even less character to reveal.
On what most fans consider a generic cookie cutter track, Kyle Busch was the track’s most recent winner. Tony Stewart took home the trophy in 2007 and 2004 with Kevin Harvick, a fellow desperately needing something to build on for 2009, the only other repeat winner winning its first two events in 2001 and 2002, rounding out the winners’ list posts Jeff Gordon as the 2006 winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2005, and Ryan Newman in 2003. No Ford has even celebrated a Chicagoland victory. Making things worse on the “Blue Oval Boys,” part-time driver, Bill Elliot is the highest qualifier in 8th, but the highest Roush ride is David Regan in 17, but of rides with an expectation to stay in the chase Carl Edwards starts 25th, Matt Kenseth starts 33rd, and Greg Biffle lines up 35th with Bobby Labonte needing owner points to start next to last. If it weren’t for Toyota having six of the top ten spots including #1 and #2, one might argue some kind of conspiracy theory since GM and Chrysler are part of the new GM (as in “Government Motors”) and Illinois is Obama country.
Could this be the breakthrough race Red Bull racing has long sought with their drivers Brian Vickers and Scott Speed starting in the front row? With teammates Jimmy Johnson in 3rd and Jeff Gordon in 5th, don’t count on it. Surprisingly, points leader and two time Chicagoland winner, Tony Stewart is mired in 32nd. All-in-all, this looks like a good day for Hendricks racing adding Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 13th and Mark Martin in 14th. A real loose bolt in the lineup is how high up the starting order some of the typical “start and park” teams qualified with Dave Blaney all the way up in the 18th spot, Mike Bliss in 26th, and Joe Nemechek in 31st. Given the rare opportunity to compete for glory, what creative explanations will these teams give for bowing out before the first tire change?
For most, it’s just another day at the office at just another race track. The Sprint Cup drivers and their teams enjoy one of their two remaining open dates the following weekend before the big hoopla and buildup for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, now firmly established as one of the years’ most honored events. This is the last broadcast for TNT, who appears to have benefited tremendously promoting Ralph Shaheen to play-by-play announcer after previous lead announcer, Bill Weber, had issues at the network’s hotel in New Hampshire. It’s also the last week for that naughty little cretin, Racin’ Buddy making is token animated appearances. All-in-all, TNT provided good coverage through out their brief tenure.
Silly season is on as rumors heat up and the first major announcement came from Michael Waltrip Racing. Mikey will revert to a part time schedule in the 55 Napa Toyota, while Martin Truex evacuates Earnhardt/Ganassi racing to man the second full-time MWR team in car #56.
In a racing venue challenging to pick winners, looking at final practice versus qualifying, hope brightens up for the Roush boys with Carl Edwards posting the second best practice time, Greg Biffle in 5th, Jaime McMurray in 13th, and Matt Kenseth in 18th. Alas, but Jimmy Johnson runs up front with the best practice time. The quitter crew drops off significantly in practice, but the fellow with the biggest headache combing a terrible starting position and the worst practice is former champ, Bobby Labonte.
So in keeping with the Blues Brothers metaphors, which driver is truly on a “mission from God?” Surely the car owners and sponsors hope the Joliet race will produce far fewer wrecked cars than were destroyed in the movie. Make sure you have your cheese whiz on don’t break your watch.
Jake: Hit it.
Blues Brothers humor not withstanding, there isn’t a more generic track on the NASCAR circuit than Chicagoland Speedway described by the SpeedTV broadcast crew as being, “much like Michigan but only 1 ½ miles long not 2 miles. Face it, the move to new tracks in Fontana, California, Kansas City, Chicagoland and elsewhere has robbed race fans of some wonderful race track diversification with the older tracks pushed off or reduced from the schedule – one night date at Darlington in May, Rockingham and North Wilkesboro – gone. Given the Joliet, Illinois race is now a night race, it has even less character to reveal.
On what most fans consider a generic cookie cutter track, Kyle Busch was the track’s most recent winner. Tony Stewart took home the trophy in 2007 and 2004 with Kevin Harvick, a fellow desperately needing something to build on for 2009, the only other repeat winner winning its first two events in 2001 and 2002, rounding out the winners’ list posts Jeff Gordon as the 2006 winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2005, and Ryan Newman in 2003. No Ford has even celebrated a Chicagoland victory. Making things worse on the “Blue Oval Boys,” part-time driver, Bill Elliot is the highest qualifier in 8th, but the highest Roush ride is David Regan in 17, but of rides with an expectation to stay in the chase Carl Edwards starts 25th, Matt Kenseth starts 33rd, and Greg Biffle lines up 35th with Bobby Labonte needing owner points to start next to last. If it weren’t for Toyota having six of the top ten spots including #1 and #2, one might argue some kind of conspiracy theory since GM and Chrysler are part of the new GM (as in “Government Motors”) and Illinois is Obama country.
Could this be the breakthrough race Red Bull racing has long sought with their drivers Brian Vickers and Scott Speed starting in the front row? With teammates Jimmy Johnson in 3rd and Jeff Gordon in 5th, don’t count on it. Surprisingly, points leader and two time Chicagoland winner, Tony Stewart is mired in 32nd. All-in-all, this looks like a good day for Hendricks racing adding Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 13th and Mark Martin in 14th. A real loose bolt in the lineup is how high up the starting order some of the typical “start and park” teams qualified with Dave Blaney all the way up in the 18th spot, Mike Bliss in 26th, and Joe Nemechek in 31st. Given the rare opportunity to compete for glory, what creative explanations will these teams give for bowing out before the first tire change?
For most, it’s just another day at the office at just another race track. The Sprint Cup drivers and their teams enjoy one of their two remaining open dates the following weekend before the big hoopla and buildup for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, now firmly established as one of the years’ most honored events. This is the last broadcast for TNT, who appears to have benefited tremendously promoting Ralph Shaheen to play-by-play announcer after previous lead announcer, Bill Weber, had issues at the network’s hotel in New Hampshire. It’s also the last week for that naughty little cretin, Racin’ Buddy making is token animated appearances. All-in-all, TNT provided good coverage through out their brief tenure.
Silly season is on as rumors heat up and the first major announcement came from Michael Waltrip Racing. Mikey will revert to a part time schedule in the 55 Napa Toyota, while Martin Truex evacuates Earnhardt/Ganassi racing to man the second full-time MWR team in car #56.
In a racing venue challenging to pick winners, looking at final practice versus qualifying, hope brightens up for the Roush boys with Carl Edwards posting the second best practice time, Greg Biffle in 5th, Jaime McMurray in 13th, and Matt Kenseth in 18th. Alas, but Jimmy Johnson runs up front with the best practice time. The quitter crew drops off significantly in practice, but the fellow with the biggest headache combing a terrible starting position and the worst practice is former champ, Bobby Labonte.
So in keeping with the Blues Brothers metaphors, which driver is truly on a “mission from God?” Surely the car owners and sponsors hope the Joliet race will produce far fewer wrecked cars than were destroyed in the movie. Make sure you have your cheese whiz on don’t break your watch.
No comments:
Post a Comment