B24 Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 http://cbs.sportsline.com/autoracing/story/7507210 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 http://cbs.sportsline.com/autoracing/story/7507210 I wonder if that'll force his sponsers and team to say, NO, to non-NASCAR events...BTW - I think that race is on CBS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Sounds like he'll be okay...thankfully. Probably won't miss any Nascar races either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalsfan33 Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 I hope he will be okay.He's the only reason I watch Nascar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevnz Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Sounds like he'll be okay...thankfully. Probably won't miss any Nascar races either. Yeah, but he's gonna be one sore SOB on race day and he'll have to have a relief driver....It's a good thing they brought in the chase cause he's gonna lose some points and would probably be taken out of any chance at a championship if they kept the old scoring system. In fact I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the car, take one lap and bring it in and get the hell out of it....Cause those cars are hotter than hades and add that to burns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 Jr. was released from the Hospital earlier today.. doesn't look like he'll miss any time in the Cup series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 Jr. was released from the Hospital earlier today.. doesn't look like he'll miss any time in the Cup series. I doubt he will either. He's pretty tough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted July 20, 2004 Report Share Posted July 20, 2004 Martin Truex Jr. has been notified that he may run the Cup series race this Sunday if Dale Jr. can't handle the heat in the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfItsBrownFlushItDown Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Could turn out good for Truex. He needs to get a taste of the Cup because I think he'll be moving up next year.Don't get me wrong though, I think Jr will tough it out and race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Could turn out good for Truex. He needs to get a taste of the Cup because I think he'll be moving up next year.Don't get me wrong though, I think Jr will tough it out and race. I like Truex, he's a good solid driver. I think he'll be Andretti's replacement in 2005 -- but for some reason, I remember hearing that Andretti will be a full time driver with DEI in the Cup series for the 2005 season... does anyone else know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevnz Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Could turn out good for Truex. He needs to get a taste of the Cup because I think he'll be moving up next year.Don't get me wrong though, I think Jr will tough it out and race.I like Truex, he's a good solid driver. I think he'll be Andretti's replacement in 2005 -- but for some reason, I remember hearing that Andretti will be a full time driver with DEI in the Cup series for the 2005 season... does anyone else know? Pretty sure you're on the money with that. It may hinge on a sponser, but DEI wants Andretti in the #1 next year full time. Truex is more likely to replace Waltrip in 2k6 cause Jr has gone on record saying he needs another season of Busch racing plus some extra Cup races. He's a young dude, there is no need to rush him. Racing that extra year in the Busch series will only help Truex in the long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Could turn out good for Truex. He needs to get a taste of the Cup because I think he'll be moving up next year.Don't get me wrong though, I think Jr will tough it out and race.I like Truex, he's a good solid driver. I think he'll be Andretti's replacement in 2005 -- but for some reason, I remember hearing that Andretti will be a full time driver with DEI in the Cup series for the 2005 season... does anyone else know? Pretty sure you're on the money with that. It may hinge on a sponser, but DEI wants Andretti in the #1 next year full time. Truex is more likely to replace Waltrip in 2k6 cause Jr has gone on record saying he needs another season of Busch racing plus some extra Cup races. He's a young dude, there is no need to rush him. Racing that extra year in the Busch series will only help Truex in the long term. I wonder if Jr. just said it to fire up Waltrip, because, man, he's in the top 5 in points combining the last 3 or 4 races (at least that's what I heard, I didn't research it myself). Plus Michael signed through 2005 with DEI recently, which I'm not sure it's a good thing or a bad thing considering it's only a one year deal, then again I'm not entirely sure about contracts in NASCAR. Oh btw, ever noticed when Waltrip has stopped doing that mass commerical load that he's driving much better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevnz Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 I wonder if Jr. just said it to fire up Waltrip, because, man, he's in the top 5 in points combining the last 3 or 4 races (at least that's what I heard, I didn't research it myself). Plus Michael signed through 2005 with DEI recently, which I'm not sure it's a good thing or a bad thing considering it's only a one year deal, then again I'm not entirely sure about contracts in NASCAR. Oh btw, ever noticed when Waltrip has stopped doing that mass commerical load that he's driving much better? The 2005 contract is what has led me to believe that Truex is more likely to end up in the 15 in 2006 instead of the 1. And yeah some of the comments Jr made were intended to fire up Waltrip, and it seems to have worked. But Waltrip has his own Cup team with Kenney Wallace as the driver and it's no stretch to see Waltrip build his team up for himself and move over to his own car in 2006 and Truex takes over the 15 when he does.As for contracts...Ask Kasey Kahne about contracts in NASCAR Actually, they can be as binding as both parties are willing to let them be. I've seen instances where a driver get's released but isn't allowed to race for another team for the rest of the season (that's rare as it will freak out potential drivers and scare them away) But most of the time a driver is given his full release if he's fired or asks for it. Contracts are a lot tighter in NASCAR than other pro sports. I can't think of anytime I've heard of a driver sitting out until he get's a new contract....cause the owner would replace his ass in a second. I mean can you imagine how many drivers would be begging for the 24 if Gordon said he needed more money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfItsBrownFlushItDown Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 Saw this article in the Lexington Herald Leader this morning--take some time off? weekends for racingEarnhardt's drive typical for racers who love the gameBy Jenna FryerASSOCIATED PRESSCHARLOTTE, N.C. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. spends most of his time scrunched inside the cockpit of a stock car, on a high-speed chase for a NASCAR Nextel Cup championship.Add up 38 races a year, qualifying, practice and test sessions, Earnhardt probably spends about 700 hours a year in his No. 8 Chevrolet.So when a free weekend opens up on his schedule, why would the son of the late Dale Earnhardt fly across the country to compete in an American Le Mans Series race?"Driving race cars is what I love doing," Earnhardt Jr. said when announcing his participation in last Sunday's race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.But what was supposed to be a fun, relaxing spin in a Corvette CR-5 turned into a frightening accident during practice that could have jeopardized his regular job. His car burst into flames, burning him on his chin and both legs.Earnhardt slumped over his steering wheel as the flames engulfed him, and it took several seconds for him to scramble out of the car.Back home in North Carolina, Earnhardt is resting while his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team prepares to race this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway.Second in the points standings, Earnhardt cannot afford to sit out of Sunday's race. Since NASCAR does not have a substitute driver rule, Earnhardt must start the race to earn any points and stay in contention for his first championship.DEI plans to have Martin Truex Jr. on standby in case Earnhardt can't finish. Truex has never competed in a Nextel Cup event, but he has tested at New Hampshire to prepare for his series debut there in September.Still, using Truex as an injury replacement is not the ideal scenario for Earnhardt or DEI.In hindsight, Earnhardt probably should have spent his last off weekend of the season at the beach or in the mountains. Heck, even sitting on his couch in his living room would have been a better idea than competing in a race that meant nothing to DEI or the sponsors who pay millions for Earnhardt to drive his red Chevrolet.But that's not how racers live their lives."It's what we grew up doing," said NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader, who races in about 60 non-Nextel Cup events. "If you just race on Cup weekends, then it's your job. But racing is still my hobby. It's what I love to do. It seems like if there's a weekend and there's a race, then I'm supposed to be in it."Earnhardt inherited that characteristic from his father, who was killed in a last-lap wreck in the 2001 Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt introduced his son to extracurricular events, and the two even raced a Corvette together in the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway about a month before the fatal crash.Besides continuing the family business as the top driver at DEI, Earnhardt Jr. has made occasional appearances in non-NASCAR events. Before Sunday, he most recently had teamed with fellow NASCAR star Tony Stewart and Britain's Andy Wallace to nearly win the Rolex race in February.So he jumped at the opportunity to join road racing specialist Boris Said last weekend.But future extracurricular activities will surely be scrutinized.Budweiser, the primary sponsor of Earnhardt's NASCAR ride, won't prevent him from competing in future races."Although there is always risk in all forms of motorsports, we support Dale Jr.'s efforts to become the most successful driver he can be," said Tony Ponturo of Budweiser.DEI officials might not feel the same way.But if Earnhardt is anything like his father -- and so far, his toughness, determination and desire indicates he is -- it will be hard for anyone to keep him out of a race car.The one thing I didn't like was that they said that Jr would be out of the Cup race if he sat out. There's no way he could lose that much ground in one race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 I agree. Not with the Chase for the Championship now.. he just needs to be in the top ten when the Chase starts. After that, the points accomulated are back at 0 and the ten race from scratch again.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHO DEY AGAIN? Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 I thought you guys would have been a little harder on Jr. since most of ya are bashers. I do have some good scoop for you and it ties in with the whole DEI conversation. DHL is more than likely going to have their name on one of the DEI hoods next year. We all know it's not going to be the 8. I think it will be Truex. Waltrip needs to finish strong or he might get shown the door. BTW,you heard it here first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 Well the rumour I heard Who Dey is that Micheal was a lock for driving for D.E.I. through the 2005 season. After that there was some doubt, which is understandable. He seems to be strong on restrictor tracks, but kinda weak at other tracks, although he finished well recently in the road race at Sonoma.Martin Truex (does his family own the Truex condom company? ) is also a lock to drive the next available D.E.I. Cup ride that comes available. He and Junior are real good buddies, and if anything, I can see Junior, Micheal, and Martin on the same team. I don't see Andretti being a regular driver, just a fill in like at Daytona. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevnz Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 I just don't see Truex in Cup next year. Jr wants to treat him the same way he came up(you can't argue that it worked) and let him run in the Busch series another year and get more experience on the tracks and a feel for the Cup cars. That's why I think Andretti will race the #1 for a full season then DEI will decide between Waltrip and Andretti and the other ride goes to Truex. A lot of it will depend on what the sponser wants. If they kick and shout for a "young gun" (Damn I hate that expression) then yeah Truex get's the nod. But if a sponser plays it smart and decides that the best bet is someone that knows how to drive in the Cup series already, and let the young guy get some experience that can only help him then it's Andretti(or someone else, you never know) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 Well it looks like Truex will race for Junior this weekend anyway. Earnhardt will start the race, then hop out of the car after one lap to collect the points. Risky move IMO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 Well it looks like Truex will race for Junior this weekend anyway. Earnhardt will start the race, then hop out of the car after one lap to collect the points. Risky move IMO! It had to be done. If he's not able to drive his car, it must be pretty bad. At least he'll get a few points though, but with the Chase point system, it shouldn't hurt him too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted July 23, 2004 Report Share Posted July 23, 2004 Oh, by the way, Truex has the second best speed during first practice so far.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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