Article #1: 2005 Bonehead Moves of the Year

Written by: ?

From: Athlon Sports 2006 NAACAR preview pg. 16-20

This article has a lot of dumb things in it in which I proudly want to speak out again.

To make matters worse, in his post-race interview session, Hmiel told reporters, "He claimed he'd get me, so he better hurry up because he ain't got much longer." This drew the ire of most of the garage area, with NASCAR responding with a 25-point penilty and a $10,000 fine. We hope Shane uses his time wisely while on suspension and grows up. The last line is what put me over. Now before you go on with a debate on the pt penilty, NASCAR gave it to him becuase he showed the middle finger on camera. Now if it hadn't been for the in-car camera nobody would've saw it so it's unfair since only curtain cars carry that camera. But we've already gone through that. My pt is to tell someone to plainly grow up is out of proportion. Shane doesn't need to grow up. The attitude showed in that quote is that in which NASCAR needs. What do you want? A bunch of robots walking around? Yes, the comment was a little over the edge but it was the edge that NASCAR needs.

It makes the list based on the point hit each driver took in a race crucial to Chase entry. Newman dropped from eighth to ninth, Jarret from 11th to 14th and Harvick, a rare innocent bystander, from 14th to 16th. Nothing against the article here. I just wanted to express the fact that retaliation can hurt you and others in the long run. That is why we all strongly suggest that if you are mad at someone, walk up to them face-to-face and tell them or call them Monday morning.

"I don't know what his problem is with Michael but it will be fixed - I guarantee it," Tony Eury said. "He acts like he's friends with him, but everytime he gets near him on the track, he ends up wrecking him." That quote is a quote from Charlotte 2005 which appears in the article. I just quick pt to make: in my eyes I don't see what you are saying. So please take the time to show me proof of your point. They always say you need to back up your statement with evidence.

Once on the backstretch, Gordon threw his helmet at Waltrip's car, only to see it bounce away harmlessly. Gordon then went on television and called Waltrip, "A piece of shit." All told, Gordon racked up fines of $35,000 and 50 Nextel Cup points. By the way, does anyone remember who actually won that race? Personally I believe that pts penilties shouldn't be handed out for swearing and/or throwing items at other cars. The only pts penilties teams should recieve are those that affect that outcome of the race. That being pts penilties for a rule fracture that is connected to the car such as an illegal carbrator or fuel cell. And I do remember who won that race actually. Kurt Busch won that race to start off his chase for the Nextel Cup trophy. Any questions?

2. The DEI Crew Swap. I am not going to bother typing the whole section but the only thing I have to say is it wasn't the number 2 bonehead move of the year. This is a move that made this season look ugly yet in the future, you see good results coming from both DEI teams so watch your back because DEI is comin'. And to back up my pt, look at the pt standings and the finishes so far this year. DEI couldn't even get a top 20 with one car at Cali and they get both cars in the top 15 this year. I see good things here.

Truthfully, we are not sure if we should give the trophy to Busch or Roger Penske. Penske may qualify for hiring Busch. He has hung his longtime associate, Miller Brewing Company, with a driver that has a history of on-and-off-track transgressions and is quckly becoming NASCAR's all-time boo-bird champion. News breaker: He is already the boo-bird champion espically after last year near the end of the year. And I do have to agree. Why would Penske want to replace Rusyt with a driver who is hated by many? This is one switch that I really don't like.

Article #2: Junior & JGo Back on track in '06?

Author: David Poole

From: Athlon Sports 2006 NASCAR Preview, pg. 22-28

This article has a lot of wonderful quotes from Dale Earnhardt Jr & Jeff Gordon but the stuff written in here by David Poole isn't so wonderus and that is why I feel the need to write some interesting comments.

Ardent fans who follow the standings each week knew, as the 2005 season moved towards the chase, that Gordon was trying to play catch-up to make the top 10 and that Earnhardt Jr had fallen so far behind there was no coming back this time around. True fans never give up till mathimatical elimination. The fans who Poole is talking about aren't true Gordon nor Junior Nation fans. Those are true to their driver would still be behind them right until the end.

"We didn't change the teams because of a performance issue," Earnhardt Jr. says. "We changed it because of attitude issues between me and Tony Jr. (And) it did what it was supposed to do. It fixed my attitude and it fixed his attitude. Now we look at each other and talk to each other today totally different. We have a lot more respect for each other (and) that gives us an oppertunity to work together in the future that we wouldn't had have if we had run ourselves totally apart. On performance issues, maybe we shouldn't have changed things. But in the long run, personally I am better for it, and I think Tony Jr is too. I think we were just both really immature for our age. That's due to the fact our fathers let us raise ourselves, pretty much. I think the more mature we get the easier it is for us to work together. This year sped that up quite a bit, being away from each other." THE LONG RUN is the key here. Exactly what I've been preeching the whole time.

After finishing fifth at Loudon, Earnhardt Jr was 31st, 40th, 34th and 42nd in his next four races. But he had a winning car at Dover & also at Charlotte. You should atleast have the heart to mention that.

NASCAR wants fans to care about who finishes highest in the final standings among those not in the chase but nobody does. We so do care. So basically what you're saying is that those in the chase this year do not have fans. Have nice of you. What bad way to treat those who are loyal to other drivers.

No one needed particularly keen perception to know that it was a major gamble going in, and it didn't take very long to figure out it was not paying off. I thought it'd work and as Jr has stated himself, it'll be good for the long run.

Earnhardt Jr did parlay a fuel-milage gamble into a race victory at Chicagoland Speedway in July. A win is a win. And he was running in the top 10 when Steve made the call.

Some fans eyes the gauge for Earnhardt Jr is his father. It's hard for anyone to fill those shoes, but statistically Earnhardt Jr is not doing that poorly. He has stated himself that he is not his father nor will never be his father. He is said time and time again that he is his own man. Why can't we just drop the whole thing that he is his father? When will this madness end?

Article #3: Get Shorty

Written by: ?

From: Athlon Sports 2006 NASCAR Preview, pg. 31-35

This article basically discusses the rule of limiting the number of teams one car owner can have which I am against it. And in some of the parts I post here, you will see why.

Brian France: We don't like the fact that the independent teams, or in particular a new owner looking at coming in the door, have a daunting task to compete and the concept of having to have five teams. That means the oppertunities aren't there for young drivers. It means oppertunities aren't there to create the next Rick Hendrick and have that kind of sucess. It ultimately means that we don't field as many competetive cars as we'd like to field. We have to address that. The oppertunities are there. Young drivers are actually better off with a good team like Rouch or Hendrick then some little team like Cal Well's organization, no offence to Cal.

In many ways, of course, the idea that NASCAR can stay out of one side of it's mouth that the team owners in it's premier series are "independent contractors" and then, out of the other side, say it's going to tell these businessmen how many "stores" they're allowed to open in the sports sounds aabsurdly contradictory Exactly! They are basically playing both sides of the street when they should only play one. What's up here?

Brian France: If I'm Jack Rouch and I put five teams in the chase (in 2005) then life is great. I've played by the rules and I don't want to see one thing change. But our problem is as NASCAR we've got to look out for the future. But all he has proved is he has a good crop of drivers.

Ray Everingham: But in fairness to what Jack and Rick have built over the years as businessmen and racers, it's not fair to penalize them for working within the rules. I think the responsibility lies in how we manage the sport going forward, not in how many cars somebody has. Thank you so much Ray for proving my point. I love Ray!

Joe Gibbs: But Jack has put all his equity and effort into building these teams the way they have. What NASCAR needs to do is, if you're going to make these changes, you've got to bring some equity back to the teams. Another good pt by Joe Gibbs. Thank you Joe for sharing your opinion and the key word there is : equity.

Rick Hendrick: Personally, I think Jack should be able to run five teams. He's built his organization. Short but good pt stated by Rick Hendrick. And it hits the nail on the head with what I'm saying. Jack and Rick has spent time and money to get their oganizations so they can run this many teams. Why should they suffer now?

Rick Hendrick: I really don't think you can keep seven sponsers happy and seven drivers happy. Jack's deal is an unbelievable feat for him to have five cars run that good and that equal. You can if you put good drivers behind the wheel of your cars.

I hope you see my point regarding the team issue now.

My next article response will look at more articles from Athlon Sports so look for us to have some more fun. Thanks for tuning in and good bye!