Gossip vs facts about Junior and Hendrick

I for one will not believe until it's proven to me in print or on TV, that Junior took a tour of the Hendrick shops in Concord.

"No room at the inn" was the phrase that was thrown around by reporters and supposedly Rick Hendrick, himself.

I think a few gossip columnists took the tours that he did take with unnamed teams and applied it to Hendrick. There were rumors of all the named teams: Gibbs, Childress and Ginn. Nowhere did I hear that Hendrick was named in that list.

I think whatever happens, happens. I will believe it when I see it, in print or on TV.

I will not speculate. All good journalists find the FACTS.

Casey Mears wins the Coke 600

For a first win, I think that's pretty damn cool. The LONGEST race in the season and Mears wins it.

I now have to take back my statement about a Hendrick car winning. Well, I'll make an exception. Mears winning? That's okay.

Anyone who doubted him, will now shut up, don't you think?

I've always thought he was capable. I've always thought that the Mears bloodline will not let him down. His uncle Rick raced in Indy cars and was a champion. You've gotta know that the wins would come, it was just a matter of time.

I've always thought that he was a great driver and a person. The other Hendrick drivers might be great drivers, but they don't seem that genuine. They don't seem that down to earth like Mears. No matter what team he drives for, no matter how he does in races, he's a down to earth person.

I know when I go to Dover, I'll definitely be listening to his radio and following his career even closer.

All-Star Race

All I have to say about it...is that I'm GLAD Kevin Harvick won.

Let's hope that that continues into the Coke 600.

Meaning, someone else OTHER than a Hendrick car.

The report will continue next weekend...when the points races continue...

Darlington...The Track too Tough to Tame

I say that many of the drivers out there have beaten her, but the other half have not, as you can see all the stripes all over the sides of the cars of: Ragan, Montoya and others.

Overheating was also a factor, since FOX took notice of the 'steaming' of the 24 car. The sand, grit and pavement will get caught on the grill, no matter if you're driving one of the 'new cars', or the 'old cars'.

Of course, the focus was on many drivers, but Dale Jr the most. They were looking for a HUGE comeback. I think it would have been possible, had there been fresh tires at the end, but that didn't happen.

Denny Hamlin made a run, which lasted 179 laps. I think that he would have had the greatest chance to win, in that regard, but he never got back to the front. Cautions that flew in that portion of the race, weren't in his favor.

Ryan Newman was also running up front, being consistent, being the only Dodge making it up to the front, although the 2 of Kurt Busch, would like to think differently.

Chevy still makes its domination known, with another win for Hendrick and Jeff Gordon. Hopefully that will be different, come Charlotte.

My thoughts on Jr Leaving DEI

Okay, now, I've finally got the time to expound upon my thoughts on this topic.

I think it's great that he's leaving. If you were a driver and you got sub par equipment, wouldn't you do the same thing? Not to mention, that the owner of the team disrespected him in the press. I think that's a rude and unprofessional thing to do.

Now, the rumors of which team he'll be headed to in 2008 are coming fast and furious. Whispers of Gibbs, Hendrick and RCR are heard mostly.

I think that his best choice would be RCR, because he has such a close relationship with Richard Childress, just like his father did. I think he would have his needs in mind, when he would negotiate a contract. I also think that he would be all ears, when it comes to equipment. Also, the guidance of an older driver, in Jeff Burton. I think that the safety minded elder driver, could help Junior immensely.

When he gets to one of these teams, or RCR specifically, who would they pair him with in the pits? I can't think of anyone on his current crew, that I would place him with. Some of the best crew chiefs are taken: Chad Knaus with Johnson, Greg Zippadeli with Tony Stewart... the list goes on.

That would remain to be speculated on as well. I honestly can say, that I hope Tony Eury Jr will NOT be his chief, come 2008. I think that even though they're family, they still clash and do not get along, no matter how they like to say the opposite. Hearing them on the radio, you would think that they hated each other. Arguing during pit stops, yelling at each other during the race, during the season, seems to never stop.

As for DEI surviving after Junior leaves? Not likely. Most of their money comes from the sponsorship cash, licensing of merchandise and his name, period. He is the son of a champion, who has won championships, but has not done that in Cup. He wants to do that and if he can't do it there, he'll go elsewhere.

I think Teresa is smoking some dope, if she thinks that the team will survive after he's gone. If Junior leaves, I can see Martin Truex leaving as well, leaving Paul Menard to fend for himself. That would not be good for Menard's career, as well as his life, period. Rumors have his father funding his ride and supplying some funds for DEI and supporting his alleged girlfriend, Teresa. Who knows really what's going on there. It's all speculation.

Things will be quiet, until we hear the announcement about what team he will be joining. I imagine it would be a press conference such as the one he had to announce his leaving DEI.

Until then...people will still speculate and not leave the poor man alone.

One can only hope that he makes the best decision for himself and JR Motorsports.

Junior to leave DEI?

I think that's GREAT. Honestly, I think everyone who follows him, thinks his equipment is definitely terrible, not to mention, sub par.

I don't go with the idea that he'll have a Hendrick engine, though. I thought JRM had RCR engines?

More about this later...

Tight, tight tight...

That's all I heard on various driver's radios. And how many of them spun out?

How many lost spots, especially when things were going good? MAN.

I think it might be a universal problem with the CoT in general, because all makes were spinning out, especially when they were trying to pass.

Granted, all that three wide business, was a bit over the top, but racing close to one another gave some excitement to the whole thing.

Everyone lost forward bite, because the track was green. Thanks A LOT, RAIN!

I think the CoT is a thorn in everyone's side, but that one team has it figured out. I think it's obvious.

Hendrick is the team that wins, because they've figured it out. I don't know where the commentators on TV say that CHEVY as a make, has figured it out, but I guess they have some kind of knowledge, that Ford, Dodge and Toyota do not.

After that very messy wreck on lap 372, which included: Ward Burton, Ricky Rudd, Allmendinger, Truex and Stewart...it seemed like something had to give.

I know if I were a driver and I took a hit like Rudd did, I would pack it in and just say the hell with it. Even in the early laps, people were battling for positions like it was the last five laps, or something. COME ON!

I think someone, namely NASCAR, has to figure out why so many drivers were hitting the wall and the problem with the chassis being so tight, so often.

I like side by side racing, but not for the sake of it, so people would wreck and wreck often.

Broadcasting notes: Will SOMEONE at Fox REMEMBER that Martin Truex Jr is NO LONGER a rookie? The graphic had that annoying rookie (R) after his name and NOT David Ragan. WHY? Someone has to get that right.

Seems like if NBC got it wrong, ESPN got it right: Allen Bestwick is back in the booth for ESPN's coverage. Finally, someone has WOKEN up, to see that talent was being WASTED.

Thank you, ESPN!

Let's hope Darlington is much better than today. Fox deserves a pat on the back and a cookie, for showing the debris. Let's hope it continues...

Another night race, next Satruday. Let's hope there's NO RAIN at the 'Lady in Black' and that she treats most of the drivers well.

Richmond...the day after

Okay, now this race is definitely LESS exciting, now that it's the day after. I love seeing the sparks and the paint schemes under the lights.

The rain had to ruin it all, not to mention what I was going to do today. Oh well.

Racing rules everything, no matter what. Well, not no matter what. But, anyway...

I just know I'm obsessed with this sport. Hopefully there will be a good outcome this afternoon.