Pit Stop Report

Hi, everyone!

Welcome to my last post of 2007 – just a couple hours short of ringing in the New Year here where your beloved Pit Stop Report blogger resides in north central Texas.

I wanted to thank all of you for your readership during 2007, first with the previous blogger, Scott, and now with me. When you continue to come back to see the latest we have to offer, it encourages us to keep writing and keep bringing you the latest from the world of NASCAR, as well as other racing leagues. In other words – we write for you, the readers.

Going into 2008, I’d like to give you a preview of what you can expect here at the Pit Stop Report! We’ll start the year by looking at previews for a variety of racing teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as well as previews for selected Craftsman Truck Series teams and Nationwide Series teams. We’re also going to take a look at what’s going on in the Indy Car League, and take a look at a few of the other leagues to see what’s going on in 2008…leagues including ARCA, IHRA, and F1.

For now, I want to leave you with on a very happy note for the end of 2007/start of 2008: watch the video below to see Dale Earnhardt, Jr. win the 2004 Daytona 500. Here’s hoping for a repeat in the #88 for 2008!

Happy New Year!

Until we meet again in 2008, drive fast and turn left!

Howdy, dear readers!

I’m so very sorry - I did not mean to be away for so very long - what started as a few days away to accommodate travel for my full-time job, became two weeks away to take care of a VERY large project that desperately needed my attention. And oh yeah, the holidays!

Happy Holidays! For those of you who celebrate, MERRY CHRISTMAS! My Christmas wish for all of us here at the Pit Stop Report is that we’ll have an exciting year of racing to look forward to next year in 2008! With team switches, the Car of Tomorrow, the 50th running of the Daytona 500 and so much more to look forward to, I have no doubt that 2008 will keep us busy in the world of racing.

In my absence, NASCAR has been fairly slow – a few sponsors have been announced and a few teams have added people and a few crews have changed things up – but we really haven’t missed a lot.

Looking outside of NASCAR for a bit, let’s take a walk over to the Indy Racing League. Did you know that several IRL drivers will be making a jump to stock cars in 2008? We’ll talk about those drivers and others in both NASCAR and IRL as the New Year starts.

For now, I must take my leave of you again to head out of town with my family for another few days - I’ll be back just before New Year’s and will post for you one last time in 2007 before we start the New Year out with a bang!\

I leave you with images from the 49th Daytona 500, won at the very last possible second by KEVIN HARVICK!

All the best,

Tiffany

Good morning, NASCAR fans!

My name is Tiffany Aller, and I am the brand-new host for the Pit Stop Report - and I can’t wait to get started!

With the 2007 racing season just barely behind us and the 50th running of the Daytona 500 only 3 months in the future, we’ll have a lot of ground to cover in this off-season!

A little about me: I am a full-time HR professional employed by a major airline who enjoys blogging and writing web content in her free time. I’ve been a lifelong fan of NASCAR and grew up a stone’s throw from Pocono Raceway in beautiful Long Pond, Pennsylvania. I now live in Texas, quite close to the Texas Motor Speedway…a venue that fills a lot of my time while taking a lot of my money!

My vision for this blog is to not only cover the latest news from the world of Cup racing, but also take a look at what’s happening all over the world of racing - trucks, ARCA, IRL - you name it, and I’ll hit it every so often. My main focus will remain on Cup…but I’ll tackle any topic at least once!

I’m very open to suggestions and thrive on feedback, so feel free to throw your ideas my way…you may just see them develop into articles for the future!

Here’s where we’re going to get started together:

Back in early 2007, I wrote an article for a new sports magazine that unfortunately folded before my work could be published. Within that article, I made a number of predictions for the upcoming Cup season…and so with the Pit Stop Report, I’m going to go ahead and expose my predictions to the world, and then compare them to what actually transpired. Let’s just say that I’m EXTREMELY disappointed in Michael Waltrip! I do agree with former PSR writer Scott that Michael is hilarious in his ads, but I wish to heck he could drive! (Waltrip and Napa)

We’ll hit a comparison of my predictions versus reality for the first couple posts. That should lead us up to the awards ceremony on Friday, and then we’ll take a nice long look at how the ceremony progresses. We all know who the top 12 are - but after the ceremony, we’ll take a recap look at speeches by driver as well as anything noteworthy. Since the recap will start on December 1st, I foresee calling it “The Twelve Days of NASCAR”.

Going forward to the end of the year, we’ll look at current happenings with Cup teams, and then also start look at off-season happenings within other racing leagues. After the first of the year, we’ll begin a series of predictions for the 2008 season, and then take a nice long look at the legacy and legend that is the Daytona.

I’m so happy to cyber-meet all of you, and I look forward to your continued readership in the future! I’m busily setting up a MySpace page to go along with the Pit Stop Report and I hope that you’ll wander over to see it and become a part of my friends list! If you’re on my friends list, you’ll be able to see a list of all posts on the Pit Stop Report, delivered live through your bulletin board listing! You’ll find this to be a great reminder of when to come visit new posts as they go live. WARNING: the MySpace page is still in development - I only found out that I was selected to host the Pit Stop Report a few days ago, so there is a lot still in development!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you again soon!

Tiffany

NASCAR, Michael Waltrip, Daytona International Raceway, Champions Week, Awards Ceremony

The past few weeks have seen Tony Stewart win three Nextel Cup races and move from seventh place in the points to his present second place. Which will put him right on Jeff Gordon’s tail when the Chase points are put up and Gordon will see his 300+ point lead evaporate to nothing.

Stewarts surge the past few weeks is very like his run for the Championship in 2005 where he totally dominated the last half of the season to take the title. Gordon on the other hand has seen himself and teammate Jimmy Johnson slowly slide away since their domination early in the season. Although they have been mediocre lately, I don’t think it is enough to take the Championship. Stewart in turn needs to lookout for teammate Denny Hamlin and late charger Carl Edwards, both who could cramp Stewarts place at the top.

With only two weeks left until the Chase starts, it will be interesting to watch what unfolds. With all the Chase spots pretty much spoken for, unless some miracle occurs and Dale Jr. makes the Chase, look for everyone to taking it easy to save their spot, except for Stewart and Kurt Busch.

Till the next Pit Stop…..

Carl Edwards performed his trademark backflip as he owned the second half of the race to win the NASCAR Nextel Cup Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night. Kasey Kayne was the one to beat in the first half of the race but was overtaken by Edwards and he never looked back. It was Edwards’ second win of the season and he also clinched a spot in the Chase for the Championship that starts in three races.

While Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a great race and is still mathematically in the running to make the Chase, he has a very slim chance to make it. Look foward to Dale doing what he can to have a great finish to his last year at DEI Inc.

Series points leader Jeff Gordon was involved in a five-car accident in his Chevrolet with less than 50 laps remaining and finished 19th. He now holds a 349-point lead over Stewart in the standings. Tony Stewart moved into second place ahead of Denny Hamlin, who broke a valve spring in his Chevy engine on lap 210 and finished 42nd. It was the first time in 53 races Hamlin was not running at the end.

Till the next Pit Stop…..

NASCAR, Carl Edwards, NASCAR Nextel Cup Sharpie 500, Bristol Motor Speedway, Kasey Kayne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet

Races at Bristol are always exciting and this weeks race under the lights on Saturday should be no exception. The half mile oval is always filled with bumping and banging action. I look forward to some of the drivers using the excuse “well, it’s Bristol” as they bump their way forward in hopes of making the Chase. This should be a great race as always!

Jeff Gordon, You’re FIRED! [More]

NASCAR is in someone else’s business again. [More]

The new “Kid” NASCAR! [More]

The most popular and priceless car number is now worthless. [More]

Till the next Pit Stop…..

After this weeks fiasco at Michigan with all of the rain and the delays, it is apparent that NASCAR should come up with some type of contingency plan to go by if it becomes evident that a race cannot be run before everything has to move to the next race.

One thing has already been done and will help out starting next year. Some tracks, but I do not think all, will have rainout insurance available for an additional $6 or so to the fans when they purchase their tickets. It would make me feel better knowing that my $100+ tickets are not going to be washed away. I think NASCAR would feel more comfortable canceling a race with that available to all.

Another free week towards the end of the season would help too. Either just before the Chase starts or after the fifth race of the Chase. That way we are not racing at Michigan at the end of November to see who wins the Championship. I would hate to see someone lose out on a Championship because they could not get their car set up for snow!

Well, that is all the ideas I have now. If you have any ideas I would really like to here them. So just leave a comment and tell us what you think NASCAR should do.

Till the next Pit Stop…..

[NASCAR, Michigan International Speedway, rain delays, The Chase[\tags]

After two days of rainouts, the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway was finally run and Kurt Busch emerged as the winner. Another culprit crept up and delayed the race for a while. Fog mandated the race start under yellow and was eventually red flagged on lap 10 until it had lifted. After the delay there was nothing stopping the race then.

While the cars were set up for weather and track conditions on Sunday, adjustments were made on the competition yellow on lap 30. These corrections, for most drivers, seemed to be over corrected and yeiled some cautious driving. After the next set of pit stops though, most teams had the setups just right.

Busch rose to the front after the halfway point and didn’t look back. Late cautions helped him as he had perfect restarts and held off second place driver Martin Truex Jr. who looked like he could have overtaken Busch on a long green flag. Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin finished out the top five.

In the hunt for the Chase, Busch has solidified himself in the 12th and final spot. Barring some real bad weeks in the last four races to the Chase, Busch should hold off Dale Earnhardt Jr. and make the Chase.

Till the next Pit Stop…..

NASCAR, 3M Performance 400, Michigan International Speedway, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway that is rescheduled for today from yesterday and Sunday, looks like a go, so far. The skies are overcast and rain is expected on and off today. The fog was pretty heavy this morning, but looks to be lifting so there should be nothing preventing the start at 10:00 am, I hope. I am sure they will be happy just to get 100 laps in to have an official race.

Will give a full report after the race. Enjoy!

Till the next Pit Stop…..

Sunday’s 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway was postponed until Monday at 12 pm due to rain. Every effort was put in to dry the track, but there was just not enough time between rain showers to get it in shape for the race.

Unfortunately, today’s forecast is for more of the same. It is now 5:45 am and it has been raining since I have been up at 4 am and the radar shows little relief in the next few hours.

Living only 20 miles from Michigan International Speedway, on one of the major traffic routes to the track, it seems that a majority of the wet soaked fans went home shortly after the postponement was announced at around 3 pm on Sunday. So the stands will probably be a little on the empty side.

So what if the race is rained out today? It will be rescheduled for Tuesday, but rain is predicted for not only Tuesday but Wednesday also. So what if the race can’t go this week? Now this is the cool part. If the race cannot be ran this week, it will be rescheduled for the week after Thanksgiving, making it the last race of the Chase! While that would be cool for Michigan, I think that would be way cool and if anyone has been to Michigan at the end of November is usually very cool here. That should be interesting.

I will try to make updates as to the weather throughout the day.

Weather update….8:30 am and still raining. Radar shows rain all the way back to Lake Michigan and beyond. It looks pretty dim for racing today.

10:30 am - Still raining. It has not stopped all day. Continuing rain forced NASCAR to push back the start of Monday’s rain-delayed 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway. They will meet again at 11:30 to discuss starting the race then.

11:15 am - The rain has actually stopped here, 20 miles west of MIS. It takes two hours to dry the track off, so that would make the start of the race at around 2:00pm. But the radar does not look promising, unless the rain stays south! we will see. MIS and NASCAR will be meeting soon to make a decision.

12:20 pm - The latest update from the MIS website is that they are working diligently to get the track ready. Since my last update it did rain for about 15 minutes but has not for about a half an hour.

1:35 pm - The latest from MRN radio is that there is a slight window that NASCAR and MIS is shooting for and if all goes well we are looking for a green flag around 3 pm. Any deviation from that and I think that the race is in serious trouble of running today.

3:30 pm - It doesn’t look good. While the track was mostly dry around 2:30 or so a heavy mist has been falling destroying all the work done so far today. So I would look foward to following the race tomorrow.

Till the next Pit Stop…..

NASCAR, 3M Performance 400, Michigan International Speedway, MIS, The Chase

Since I did a preview yesterday, I will get right to the Fast Facts.

Now this is a cool sponsor. [More]

Probably could have predicted this. [More]

Who doesn’t like the U of M? [More]

Is it Ryan Newmans turn? [More]

Race preview from the Hollywood Hotel! [More]

NASCAR will be at Michigan international Speedway this weekend for the 3M Performance 400. The track is a 2 mile oval and is one of the faster tracks on the circuit. The only thing is the lower the yellows means for a long drawn out race and boring for the fans. The good thing is that besides the track being fast, it also allows three and even four wide passing. Also fuel milage may play apart in the finish.

The favorites used to be anyone from Fenway Rousch Racing, but this year and the COT have stifled them it seems. But I am not counting out Carl Edwards or Matt Kenseth. Also look for the regulars Gordon, Johnson and Stewart.

Till the next Pit Stop…..

As it has been rumored for the last week or so, Kyle Busch made it official that he will be joining Joe Gibbs Racing beginning in the 2008 season. Busch will join Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin if the Gibb garage and J. J. Yeley will be sent packing to find a ride for next year.

The 22 year old Busch is signed through the 2010 season and will most likely stay there if he can prove to be a winner. To read more about this, visit the Joe Gibbs Racing website for the whole story.

Till the next Pit Stop…..

NASCAR, Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, J. J. Yeley

Lately, when you think of Michael Waltrip, you think of the scandel that hit at Daytona at the beginning of the year. You think of Michael’s 0 for however many races he missed this year because he didn’t qualify. You may also think of the $300,000 or more that he had to pay back to NAPA and other sponsers for not qualifying.

But there is one thing that you have to agree that Michael is never bad at and that is his commercials! They are hilarious. So, I have spent some time on the beloved YouTube.com to find my favorite Michael Waltrip commercials. Let me know what you think or tell me about your favorite!

Till the next Pit Stop…..

Tony Stewart, who is a fantastic road racer, took the checkers for the fourth time out of the nine that he has competed at Watkins Glen International. Sunday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Centurion Boats at The Glen win could have gone to 4-time Nextel Cup Champion Jeff Gordon, if he wouldn’t have spun out on the second to last lap. Gordon admitted that he was pushing his car in response to Stewarts’ fast car and is probably the ultimate reason for the spin-out.

While Gordon and his teammate Jimmy Johnson were untouchable at the beginninig of the year, the middle portion of the season has been questionable for both teams, especially since the suspension of both of their crew chiefs, both of who will return next week at Michigan International Speedway. Now Stewart is on fire and is almost going to make it only a three car Chase for the Championship between himself, Gordon and Johnson. They are all benefitting from bonus points in the Chase from wins earlier in the year.

After about six cars or so tried to get through the same turn at the same time, Kevin Harvick and Juan Montoya got into a shoving and yelling match after Montoya’s car was forced into Harvick’s and took both of them out. While Harvick started the shoving and pushing, Montoya pushed and shoved back more times and harder, maybe trying to let Harvick know what really went down. I wonder if NASCAR will get involved because of that?

All in all, it was a very good race. Next week has the boys coming down the street from me to Michigan International Speedway, a track that has been owned by Ford and Jack Rousch Racing teams. We will see what happens this time.

Till the next Pit Stop…..

NASCAR, Tony Stewart, Watkins Glen International, Centurion Boats at The Glen, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, Michigan International Speedway, Kevin Harvick, Juan Montoya, Jack Rousch Racing , Ford