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

On the twelfth day of NASCAR, the rhyming has to end
as we laud the team of Denny Hamlin.

Happy now? NO MORE RHYMES!

Like Martin Truex, Jr., Denny is a driver so very early in his career - but boy has he done well for the short time he’s been in Cup! From spectacular victories at Pocono to consistent performance throughout his first two seasons in the big time, I’m excited to see where Denny takes his career next.

Let’s cut to the Chase…

DENNY HAMLIN
Rank: 12th
Poles: 1
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 12
Top Tens: 18
Winnings: $4,943,810

If only FedEx delivered as quickly as Denny Hamlin…

What I like about Denny’s career so far: Joe Gibbs is definitely capable of making good calls outside of football - his confidence in the abilities of Denny Hamlin clearly show what foresight he had in adding this young’un to his team during the 2005 season. Although Denny is a relative newcomer to Cup, he’s no newcomer to racing, which is something he’s done virtually all of his life. Although youthful in appearance, Denny drives like an old pro, and he’s just fun to watch.

Where I think Denny’s future lies: I can’t even guess. He finished lower in the points this year than last, but consistency was still the major theme of his season. I’m going to guess that it’s only going to be a matter of time until Martin gets his first Daytona and his first Championship. I love his enthusiasm, and I believe that’ll carry him up to great places as his career continues!

Thanks for following along with me through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

I’m going to be off the next day or so, but I’ll be back soon with some exciting posts to take us through the end of the year - stay tuned for a look at who is moving where, what teams are busily making ‘08 plans in the off-season, and where I think certain drivers and their careers will be next year!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Denny Hamlin, NASCAR, Joe Gibbs Racing, Awards Ceremony

On the eleventh day of NASCAR, this driver had some fun
in the Bass Pro Shops number 1.

Just one day left…

I’m proud of Martin Truex, Jr…in just a few short years in the big time, he’s come a long, long way as a driver. Like his former teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Truex had a few challenges this season, but overcame them gracefully to begin down the road to the champion I believe he one day will become.

Let’s cut to the Chase…

MARTIN TRUEX
Rank: 11th
Poles: 1
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 7
Top Tens: 14
Winnings: $5,003,880

Since Martin wasn’t in the top ten, we’ll take him on today a little bit differently…

What I like about Martin’s career so far: First, he’s been part of a phenomenal team. Spats between Dale, Jr. and Theresa notwithstanding, DEI is an outstanding organization and they have allowed Martin to really flourish as a driver. I really like that after Martin mastered the Busch series, he went ahead and moved onto Cup with nary a look back. I’ve always felt that too many drivers keep a foot in both series - when one is supposed to be a stepping stone to another - but Martin only raced in 3 Busch races in 2007, devoting his efforts instead to Cup. And what great efforts they were!

Where I think Martin’s future lies: Honestly, I don’t see Martin Truex, Jr. sticking around at DEI for his entire career. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him stay for another year or so and then make a move to more of a powerhouse team. I really wish DEI had it in them to become a powerhouse in their own right, but with Theresa at the helm, I’m having my doubts. Her refusal to allow Dale, Jr. have more of a role in the company his own father created is just beyond my belief. But I think Martin will go far and beyond that pettiness and at some point end up at a team like Hendrick or Childress or Penske, and then his career will really take off! Good luck, #1!

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Martin Truex, NASCAR, DEI, Awards Ceremony

On the tenth day of NASCAR, the one Daytona pick
is number 29, Kevin Harvick.

Ok, not much rhymes with Kevin or Harvick, so I know this is particularly bad today…forgive me.

Kevin surpassed even my wildest imagine this year…between the win at Daytona that I predicted, and an excellent steady season all the way around, he’s starting to fill the big shoes Richard Childress initially tapped him to fill after the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

Let’s cut to the Chase…

KEVIN HARVICK
Rank: 10th
Poles: 0
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 4
Top Tens: 15
Winnings: $7,494,590

Watch Kevin’s speech on NASCAR.com.

What I liked in his speech: You know, I usually prize humility, but I actually like that Kevin listed out winning the Daytona and the All Start Challenge. His smile just said it all - how excited he was for this season. Talking about winning the Daytona for Childress was sweet. I really think that Kevin’s the only one who smiled all the way through his speech…and the only one to get an actual smile out of Richard Childress!!

What I didn’t like in his speech: There’s really just one word here I need to write: rogaine. It’s receeding badly, dude. You’re rich. Try it. Ok, but seriously, no real drawbacks to his speech. Kevin rocks…and I ain’t just saying that because my hubby loves him! I love him, too, for beginning his career so gracefully after Earnhardt’s death. He never pretended that he could replace that giant of all giants, but he’s persevered and created his own niche in the sport. Kevin, I salute you!

But oh, Delana…you know, you could actually SMILE when your husband mentions you!

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Kevin Harvick, NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, Awards Ceremony

On the ninth day of NASCAR, it’s now his turn to shine,
is the Office Depot 99.

Three days left…to quote Pat Green, it’s “just three days…”

Ok, this is the girl in me speaking, but I think Carl Edwards is an absolute cutey pie. Of course, he sometimes looks like he’s 12…but he’s a 12 year old who sure can drive, isn’t he? Congrats to Carl on his Busch Championship this season - that’s awesome!

Let’s cut to the Chase…

CARL EDWARDS
Rank: 9th
Poles: 1
Wins: 3
Top Fives: 11
Top Tens: 15
Winnings: $6,015,670

Watch Carl’s speech on NASCAR.com.

What I liked in his speech: “I hired a person that’s now my own boss” - referring to his assistant - that was funny! I also like that he acknowledged his bus driver…I think he’s the only one who did. Liked the joke about Aflac and getting to do a commercial with a duck next year…and the joke about throwing out the opening pitch for a baseball game. Happy holidays to you, too, Carl!

What I didn’t like in his speech: Ok, it’s nice to say “thank you” to your sponsors, but I really would have liked him to thank his crew/team before the big money guys. Could I get a crew chief “thank you”, here? Did I miss it? Maybe I did, but I don’t remember him actually naming pit crew members.

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Carl Edwards, NASCAR, Roush Fenway Racing, Awards Ceremony

On the eighth day of NASCAR, the driver in the sun
is Jeff Burton in the 31.

I know, I know…I’m not getting any better - I promise you, dear reader, that I won’t try to rhyme any more after the Twelve Days of NASCAR ends!

Burton is no stranger to victory lane in NASCAR, with dozens of wins between Cup, Busch and Truck. A world-class driver as well as an all-around humble guy, I’m glad to see him in the top twelve this year - it’s about dang time.

Let’s cut to the Chase…

JEFF BURTON
Rank: 8th
Poles: 0
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 9
Top Tens: 18
Winnings: $6,015,670

Watch Jeff’s speech on NASCAR.com.

What I liked in his speech: Talking about how much heart his team has really illustrates how proud he is of everyone he works with and how happy he is to work with RCR and drive the number 31. You can also hear in his voice how much he genuinely loves NASCAR and loves racing. I love that he truly believes that the best days are ahead for NASCAR - he’s absolutely right, and I look forward to watching him race for years to come. Hey, and his wife is cute - she doesn’t look like a trophy wife like some of the drivers’ wives…and his comment about showing his love for his wife in the video was just sweet. Aww…

What I didn’t like in his speech: To someone who had to watch the video online instead of on TV, the “15 year old boy” joke made no sense to me. I’m sure it was innocent and funny and all, but I totally missed out. Darn. Why the heck does Richard Childress always look so dang bored every time the camera pans over him? Be happy, dude. And lose the hair dye. No man the age of Richard Childress has hair like that. Ok, so this is turning into a piece on what annoyed me about RC, not about Jeff Burton - what can I say - I love Jeff!

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Jeff Burton, NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, Awards Ceremony

On the seventh day of NASCAR, try not to shove and push
when you see the smirking grin of Kurt Busch.

Ok, folks, we’re more than halfway there now…you only have a few more days of rhyming with me to get through!

I revealed during the 5th Day of NASCAR that I’m no fan of either Busch brother…so you can tell that I’m thrilled to be here writing about Kurt today. I think that what I like most about Kurt is his place in the Miller Light Dodge - since I wasn’t a Rusty fan, I can just keep on cheering against that blue #2. (And to my husband…dear, you chose wisely when you moved your allegiance away from that team when Mr. Wallace retired…) Anywho, Kurt deserved his spot in the hunt for the Championship this year, but that sure doesn’t make me like him any more…oh, well!

Let’s cut to the Chase…

KURT BUSCH
Rank: 7th
Poles: 1
Wins: 2
Top Fives: 6
Top Tens: 14
Winnings: $5,287,850

Watch Kurt’s speech on NASCAR.com.

What I liked in his speech: Wow - he really rattled off his sponsors, didn’t he? I was majorly impressed that he was able to zip through that many names with out looking down - not a single time.

What I didn’t like in his speech: Well, sorry that the only nice thing I could say about his speech was his ability to name sponsors…but dang it all, he just always comes off as a whiny little brat. Even looks like one. From the snippy remarks about his win in 2004 to little barbs throughout the rest of his speech, everything just ends up sounding like a pouting child. Kurt, you might be able to drive a race car, but you won’t become a true sportsman until you can gain some genuine humility and be able to get through an entire speech without looking like you’re either going to (a) throw chocolate pudding, (b) cry or (c) start cursing everyone out. Seriously.

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Kurt Busch, NASCAR, Penske, Awards Ceremony

On the sixth day of NASCAR, you really ought to see
the orange 20 driven by Tony.

Eh?

I’m an on again, off again proponent of Mr. Stewart. For a long time, he was ok. And then he became even more abrasive that he already was…and I wasn’t such a fan. Then he started tellin’ it like it was when NASCAR was making some poor decisions, and I was back on the Tony bandwagon. And now…eh. I don’t love him…don’t hate him…don’t really root for him either. But at the end of the day, there’s no doubt that he’s an awesome driver.

Let’s cut to the Chase…

TONY STEWART
Rank: 6th
Poles: 0
Wins: 3
Top Fives: 11
Top Tens: 23
Winnings: $6,396,750

Watch Tony’s speech on NASCAR.com.

What I liked in his speech: “Sorry, babe.” Loved the jokes about Greg Zipadelli playing the role as Tony’s wife. Hilarious! Tony was way gracious this year and very complimentary towards the Jimmie Johnson fan. His remarks to Juan Pablo Montoya were equally funny. It was very touching when Tony singled out some of the retiring drivers, like Ricky Rudd and Dale Jarrett - and then joked about how old he, himself, was getting.

What I didn’t like in his speech: Dude, was Tony coached? It’s almost like he was on happy pills. His speech was awesome, what can I say? He said “thank you” to all the right people, cracked all the right jokes, and was actually humble. Pass the bubbly?

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Tony Stewart, NASCAR, Joe Gibbs Racing, Awards Ceremony

On the fifth day of NASCAR, the one who comes to drive
is younger Busch bro, number 5.

No comment.

Alrighty, folks. True confessions time. I really can’t stand either Busch brother. Although I will grant that they can both drive the wheels of any car they drive (anyone remember Kurt’s incident in last year’s Homestead?) I find them to be whiny, immature brats. I’m not shedding a tear over Kyle’s departure from the #5, and have to say that the 5’s best moment is ‘07 is when Dale, Jr. finished the spring Texas race in it, after Kyle wrecked his 8. All that aside…

Let’s cut to the Chase…

KYLE BUSCH
Rank: 5th
Poles: 0
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 11
Top Tens: 20
Winnings: $4,685,520

Watch Kyle’s speech on NASCAR.com.

What I liked in his speech: The joking about being called to the NASCAR hauler…now, that was actually funny. Making fun of his speech from last year was ok, too. Very nice tribute to Mom, too…he’s right…it couldn’t have been easy raising those two monsters. (Is my bias showing through yet?)

What I didn’t like in his speech: What the hell was he doing at the start of the speech. Seriously? Grow up, dude. The whole spinning out at Daytona and the All-Star whining, yeah, stop. Once Kyle learns that he needs to suck it up and swallow his stupid comments back, he’ll do far better in public speaking.

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Kyle Busch, NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Awards Ceremony

On the fourth day of NASCAR, the one who sets the scene
is the Ford driven by 17.

Yeah, I know. Don’t give up my day job in favor of rhyming. You try doing this every day!

I’m a bit puzzled on Matt Kenseth, quite honestly. He completely runs hot and cold. When he’s on, he’s so totally on. When he’s off, you tend to forget who Kenseth even is. This year, with a 4th place in the Championship, we were all reminded of the driver who won it all just a few years ago. Matt showed that he could definitely be consistently competitive, ending in the top ten in nearly 2/3 of all races.

Let’s cut to the Chase…

MATT KENSETH
Rank: 4th
Poles: 0
Wins: 2
Top Fives: 13
Top Tens: 22
Winnings: $6,485,630

Watch Matt’s speech on NASCAR.com.

What I liked in his speech: Cute comment about Lowes selling DeWalt tools…funny! Gotta love the Wisconsin accent, too. Ya know? Matt has a great attitude in life - he’s the funny joke-around kind of guy, but he’s also the serious how-to-win kind of guy. His speaking style is engaging and he just seems like a genuinely good guy.

What I didn’t like in his speech: He scrunched together the names of all of his friends/family at the end…like when Jeff mentioned the baby, it just seemed like a throwaway type of mention. Come on, dude. Spend a bit more time on the really important folks.

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Matt Kenseth, NASCAR, Roush, Awards Ceremony

On the third day of NASCAR, the driver to look for
is the RCR driver, Clint Bowyer!

I’m getting better at this poetry stuff, right? Right? RIGHT?!

I didn’t even have Clint Bowyer on my radar for 2007…dang, where did he come from? Driving the Jack Daniels 07 for Richard Childress, Bowyer surprised fans, sportscasters and probably his own team with his strong finish this year. I hope this means that we can expect great things from him in years to come!

Let’s cut to the Chase…

CLINT BOWYER
Rank: 3rd
Poles: 2
Wins: 1
Top Fives: 5
Top Tens: 17
Winnings: $4,215,870

Watch Clint’s speech on NASCAR.com.

What I liked in his speech: I love his boyish attitude - so different from so many sports stars. I LOVE that he thanked his parents. Very touching. I loved the story about joining the RCR team as well - you can see his humble roots. From a auto shop in the mid-west to racing with the big boys, Bowyer has come far…and I believe he will continue to push himself to new limits in the future.

What I didn’t like in his speech: A bit to rehearsed/stiff. Now, it’s great that he had his words memorized and he got out all of his thoughts, but he just seemed stilted. I’m sure that as he continues on, he’ll get more comfortable…he really wasn’t that bad, just needs to loosen up a bit!

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Clint Bowyer, Richard Childress Racing, RCR, NASCAR, Awards Ceremony

On the second day of NASCAR, the driver you will see
Drives the rainbow-colored Dupont Chevy!

Again, poetry ain’t my strong point. Put down that tomato!

Today’s driver is no stranger to victory, with several Championships of his own. 2007 looked like the year that Gordon might get his next crown, but teammate Jimmie pulled through in the long run. I’m no fan of Gordon, but I do have to say that in recent years, I’ve been far more impressed by his attitude/personality than when he first entered the racing arena in the 90s. But I digress…

Let’s cut to the Chase…

JEFF GORDON
Rank: 2nd
Poles: 7
Wins: 6
Top Fives: 21
Top Tens: 30 (!!)
Winnings: $7,148,620

Watch Jeff’s speech on NASCAR.com.

What I liked in his speech: “I used to think this was an awards show, but now it’s a soap opera…” Hahahaha…love that comment! I love that the former pouter was so gracious about Jimmie’s Championship - of course, it is his teammate, but Jeff has been known for his attitude at time.

I also liked Gordon’s remarks to Mr. Hendrick. You can tell that Gordon loves driving for that team and appreciatiates the guidance he gets.

What I didn’t like in his speech: Why in the world did he bring up his crew chief’s age and relative inexperience? Come on, dude. Just give a compliment and move on. I also don’t like that he completely downplayed the birth of his first child…nice that he got choked up over Ingrid, but his remark about the kid was a throwaway one at best. And seriously, now. Drop the Southern accent. We all know you’re not Southern!

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Jeff Gordon, NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Awards Ceremony

On the first day of NASCAR, the driver you will see
Is the Hendrick Forty-Eight of Jimmie!

Sorry…poetry isn’t my strong point!

So…did everyone get to see the Awards Ceremony last night, or were you in the same boat as me, without access to ESPN Classic? Argh, that was frustrating. Luckily, NASCAR.com put up tons of videos today, and so between them all, I was able to recreate like 90% of the event for myself. Hoping NASCAR will do a replay on a, uh, normal channel in the near future.

Let’s cut to the Chase…

…haha, couldn’t resist the humor.

JIMMIE JOHNSON
Rank: 1st
Poles: 4
Wins: 10
Top Fives: 20
Top Tens: 24
Winnings: $7,646,420

Watch Jimmie’s speech on NASCAR.com.

I really enjoyed the gist of Jimmie’s speech for the Awards Ceremony, but I have to say that as nice a guy as Mr. Johnson is, a public speaker he is not. From pausing awkwardly for applause that was decidedly late in starting to stumbling a bit over a few lines to a general overall feel of discomfort in his delivery, I really kind of felt bad for him. I realize that these are racers, not Toastmasters, but Jimmie, please consider using some of your $7M to hire a PR firm to get you fully prepped next time!

What I liked in his speech: Jimmie’s direct message to Chad Knaus. It’s clear to see that they are close friends, and it’s equally clear to see that Jimmie truly appreciates the hard work Chad performs as his crew chief.

What I didn’t like in his speech: Delivery. Jimmie actually did ok when he was talking directly to people that he was thanking, but in other parts (see above), he just seemed ill at ease. What was up with UGS? Geez, Jimmie, learn your sponsors! He did, however, play this off fairly well.

Stayed tuned as we roll through the Twelve Days of NASCAR!

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Awards Ceremony

As promised, I’m going to bare all here at the Pit Stop Report and lay out the predictions from my ill-fated magazine article, and then compare them to reality. Some are funny, some actually on target. Either way, get your fill here!

Prediction
One more driver to watch in 2007 is Kevin Harvick. Originally tapped in 2001 to fill the seat vacated by the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt, Sr., he has posted only ten victories in six seasons. It bodes well for his future, however, that five of those ten victories occurred just in 2006, a feat that propelled him into the Chase with a solid points standing. Now that he’s figured out how to consistently win, look for that to continue in the future. Harvick has never won at Daytona – 2007 could prove to be the year!

Reality
When I’m on, I’m just so totally on. Really, when I wrote this prediction, I didn’t think there was a snowflake’s chance in LA of Harvick winning the Daytona. Truthfully, I added that snippet in there because my husband decided he was a Kevin Harvick fan after his beloved Rusty Wallace retired. But Tiffany’s patting herself on the back because she is just that dang good! He made the Chase for the second time after just slamming his way into victory lane at the Beach…that was his only win, but with fifteen top tens, it was enough for him to lock up tenth place in the Championship. Yay for Kevin!

Well…those are my PvRs folks - let me know what you think of my crystal ball! Before we know it, it’ll be time to roll out my guesses for ‘08 - I’d love your comments to help me get started!

Don’t forget about the Awards Ceremony tonight on ESPN Classic. My stupid satellite plan doesn’t include that channel, so I’ll watch it online after the fact…and be back tomorrow to start my next series, The Twelve Days of NASCAR, looking at the Chase’s twelve contenders, their “performance” at the Awards Ceremony, and their season over all.

Until then, drive fast and turn left!

Kevin Harvick, NASCAR, Awards Ceremony