So, here's a thought ... or 12
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Random thoughts -- truly -- while stranded in Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Conn., for eight hours, the result of a compromised windshield mechanism that ultimately canceled my flight:
• Perspective: I was frustrated, initially. I just want to see my little boy. Then when I sat down to write I thought about Amber Wells, my friend from NASCAR who landed in the Hudson River last winter. Better this happens on the ground than in the air, certainly. Sitting on this concrete floor in this airport terminal with hundreds of exasperated people cursing on cell phones is, in fact, a blessing.
• Driver introductions are different for Jimmie Johnson these days. The cheers grow louder by the week as the merchandise sales numbers escalate. Don't be surprised. It was only a matter of time. Eventually, folks come to appreciate humility in the face of historic excellence. Johnson is that dynamic personified.
• Skewed: I complain about $8 airport yogurts but I'm cool with $10 Jack and Cokes.
• When was the last time that many drivers sought out a competitor in Victory Lane to offer congratulations? I figure it was an Earnhardt victory; either Junior in the 2001 Pepsi 400 or Big E in the '98 500. It speaks perfectly to the industry-wide respect for Mark Martin. More on that later …
• Jason Aldean's new album "Wide Open" is damn good. Not many records carry five really good songs. "Keep the Girl" is stronger than ocean cable.
• I just got caught singing by a little girl. That's never good. I was even bobbing my head. At least she smiled. Her mama laughed. At me.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. won't make the Chase.
• The other three Hendrick cars will.
• While we're on the topic of Earnhardt, a reader with the screen name "MartinGlover" responded to my recent blog by complaining that I'm the world's biggest Junior apologist. Sure, I like the guy. I support him. But how, pray tell, does giving Earnhardt a platform to discuss his professional concerns -- while saying personally, both on TV and in print, that it's high time he stepped up and started producing -- constitute being an apologist?
• In a buy-a-ride world, AJ Allmendinger straight-up earned his wheels. He's thrice the driver anyone imagined.
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Do you have a question for ESPN NASCAR analyst Marty Smith? Go to Smith's SportsNation page to submit your question or comment for Marty, and check back for his Friday column in which he will provide the answers! Ask Marty |
• It's amazing how quickly fans find you on Twitter.
• Man, I wish I could print the e-mails my country-boy buddies send me about NASCAR. They make me belly-laugh. In public.
• Justice is served. I could not be happier for Alan Miller. Few folks have done as much for me as he has.
• At the conclusion of the season, Michael Waltrip should think seriously about stepping away from driving. I never believed he'd build a team of this caliber, especially given the way it started. But he has. And now that he has, with guidance from experienced executives like Ty Norris and Cal Wells, Toyota Racing Development and new NASCAR blood like former F1 engineer Steve Hallam, he must take advantage of the momentum and lure a young shoe to that 55 car. With that, MWR can sustain something special.
• Imagine what Kyle Busch would do in a Nationwide Series car with a little horsepower?
• The prayer/national anthem/flyover never gets old. Eleven seasons and my hair still stands on end.
• I love postrace antics -- and you know NASCAR does, too. When Junior and Casey Mears -- or, even better, Carl Edwards and Rowdy -- trade checkered hellos, it only draws interest. It's a shame they're put on probation, though I respect the reasoning. Ricky Craven made a fine point to me regarding driver safety in these situations: Drivers might have already loosened their seat belts, and therefore are far more vulnerable if T-boned. But I'm a fan. I love that stuff. It's one big reason I fell in love with this game in the first place.
• Wonder how UPS feels about The Franchise? David Reutimann can drive and is the king of self-deprecation. That makes for funny.
• It's amazing what a little makeup will do.
• Who's going to run NASCAR when the Frances don't want to do so any longer?
• Tony Stewart will win his first race as owner/driver at Talladega on Sunday.
• Having played football and basketball with Denny Hamlin, he is a better athlete than I thought he'd be.
• Boris Said adds to the legend. Said suffered second- and third-degree burns in a fire during the Long Beach Grand Am race. Get better, buddy.
• Regan Smith is the best he's ever been as a driver. He says the last time he felt this good was when he was contending for wins in the Ginn Racing Nationwide ride and was headed to Cup any second. That's what happens when people believe in you. It's amazing what a bit of confidence will do. More on confidence later, too.
• Feb. 15, 2009, will haunt Elliott Sadler for the rest of his life. He was this close to winning the Daytona 500.
• Really wish I'd grabbed the set list from the Eric Church show Friday night. Meant to.
And now, The Six:
Marty,
I'm a huge, huge, huge Mark Martin fan since he was in the Stroh's Light car. I've seen how he carries himself and it's one big reason I like him so much. But I always wondered, what is it about him that the other competitors respect him so much more than anyone else?
-- Charlie, Oil Trough, Ark.
Selflessness to such a rare degree that it fosters unwavering reciprocation from those who benefited along the way. In essence, Charlie, Martin for years openly helped young drivers who potentially could have someday taken his job. Despite a competitive drive matched by few, Martin has always invested time in assisting others. Unabashedly. Genuinely.
Tony Stewart told me recently that when he showed up on the Nationwide scene in the late '90s, Martin was the first driver -- and I don't mean just the established ones -- to approach the young IRL champ and extend a helping hand. Nothing says he has to do that, especially in a competitive, "me-first" arena as cutthroat as you'll find.
That is optimum self-confidence. Not cocky. Confident. It's awesome.
Marty,
Do you see the 11 team getting to Victory Lane soon? It seems like they are so close, but things don't end up going their way. Also, I believe that he is a very underrated driver that isn't talked about a lot. What is your take on Denny [Hamlin], and how he stacks up against other drivers in the Cup Series? Thanks for your time.
-- Zane, Albuquerque, N.M.
Denny Hamlin is an excellent driver, Zane. His car control ranks among the elite. The thing I've noticed most about him this year is maturity. His reaction to adversity this season is different from what it's been in the past. That was always the knock on him: whether or not he wanted it bad enough to step up and lead. He is more engaged than I recall, and likewise has increased his commitment to fitness.
He'll win this year, possibly even this weekend. Joe Gibbs Racing's speedway program is second to none. Kyle Busch had the best car in the Daytona 500 before he was stuffed in the fence in the Junior/Vickers fiasco.
In fact, I consider Hamlin a sleeper in the big picture. He's fifth in points, just 70 out of second, and no one's paying him much mind. At this juncture in the season, that's a fine position.
Hey Marty,
How's things? I just wanted to ask a question, but this probably won't be too pretty. I read and hear people addressing [Jamie] McMurray's situation at RFR. I think what people need to address -- instead of giving it a passing glance -- is Casey Mears in the 07.
No top-10s in seven races, and he has the same crew that Clint [Bowyer] had? And as I monitor the Phoenix practice top speeds and average lap times, he's mired at the bottom. Come on now … is he getting preferential treatment from getting blasted because of his name? Is it time to call a spade a spade?
I don't want to rain on Mears' parade, but I believe there are more talented drivers out there that can make Jack Daniel's and the 07 fans proud. I'm a [Robby] Gordon fan, but when Clint started driving the 07 I instantly became a casual fan -- even got a friend to give me his black Jack Daniel's tailgating t-shirt with a 7 on the back.
Used to wear it pretty often, even wore it when I went to the Dover races a couple of times. Now I can't put it on because it just upsets me. Do you think if Casey continues like this, he will still be in the 07 come next year? Will Jack Daniel's demand Clint back?
-- Waymon, Japan
It's put-up-or-shut-up time for Mears, Waymon. He's been in great equipment his entire career, so there are no excuses. And if you ask him about it, he doesn't offer any. Now he's going to be doing his thing with Kevin Harvick's old crew after a switch was announced Wednesday.
Here's what I think: I think he's a better driver than it looks right now. He's had unreal chances; chances for which every driver would sever toes. He's not Jimmie Johnson or Carl Edwards, but he's better than it looks. Confidence is paramount, and Mears' confidence is shaken.
The best he ran in his career was at Ganassi. Why? He believed.
I want him to do well. Everyone does. He's the nicest guy on earth.
As for Jack Daniel's: Sorry, Waymon, nobody loves that brand like I love that brand.
Marty,
At Hendrick Motorsports there are two separate garages. One for the 24 and 48, and one for the 5 and 88. On a recent segment of NASCAR Now, there was a tour of the 24/48 garage, where they said the same people work on both cars.
Does the same happen throughout HMS, or just within the 24/48 shop? If so, is there information being shared between all four teams?
-- Jason Williams, Collinsville, Ill.
Absolutely, Jason. Hendrick Motorsports even has an in-house computer database from which each team can access every nugget of information about every race car: every nut, bolt, screw, pop-rivet, setup-variable from each of the other three teams. It is as open-book as is possible. Rick Hendrick demands it.
All four pit crews use the same facilities to train. All engines are built in the same shop. Same with chassis: all built together so everyone can see what's happening.
That's in the shop. At the track, all four teams -- drivers, crew chiefs, engineers -- meet at least once to debrief and banter about what their cars are doing, what has and hasn't improved performance throughout that weekend.
There have been times in the recent past when one Hendrick team beat another, using the other car's setup. Case in point: When Johnson beat Gordon at Martinsville two years ago, he was out to lunch before placing Gordon's setup in the 48. Hello, Victory Lane.
Hi Marty,
I have always been curious about the entry fee for a team. Does it just cover admission to the race? Is garage space included? What track charges the most, least? I enjoy your work. Thanks!
-- Scott Elkins, Azle, Texas
Here's how it works, Scott: Each team (car) enters a race through an entry-blank coupon. By doing so, said team agrees to pay an inspection fee of $3,200. This fee is paid to NASCAR and is the same for every event.
NASCAR "controls the garage area" at every event. In other words, the sanctioning body designates each garage stall and parking position in the garage, by points. The reigning champ is always first. From there on back, teams file in via points rank that week. Garage stalls are usually across from the haulers.
In the event there are only 43 garage stalls and 45 cars, the last two teams in the point standings would have to work on their cars at the back of their haulers.
The track does not charge the teams to enter the facility.
Marty,
Greetings from northwest Indiana. On some of the NASCAR drivers' uniforms, they have stars on their shoulders. What the heck is this about? We have a running bet on this, looking forward to hearing from you.
-- Richard Barker, Valparaiso, Ind.
It doesn't mean they've won the All-Star race, Richard. It simply means they choose to wear Alpinestars driving suits. Johnson, both Busch brothers, Jeff Gordon and Mears all wear that particular brand, which, for the record, is quite selective about whom it allows to wear its suits.
That's my time. The plane is here. See y'all on Talladega Blvd. on Friday night. I'll be the guy with the red cup.
Marty Smith is a contributor to ESPN's NASCAR coverage. He can be reached at ESPNsider@aol.com.
