Welcome to this week’s edition of “He Said, She Said”, where members of the racing community sound off on a variety of topics in the Motorsports community.
This year’s panel includes current writers and editors, a current NASCAR Nationwide Series team owner, and a former driver providing a plethora of angles from all forms of the industry.
This week’s edition includes a look back at the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series action at Charlotte Motor Speedway, plus some of the latest from Michael Waltrip Racing and a preview of this week’s events at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
The 2013 Panel:
Erin Crocker Evernham (@CrockerErin): Erin Crocker is no stranger to racing. A veteran and prominent winner of the USAC tour, she is the only female driver to win an ARCA Superspeedway challenge championship. She also has starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series. She is the wife to former crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham. (Editor’s Note: Erin Crocker Evernham is away on business, but she will submit her answers later this week, so please be sure to check back for her opinions.)
Chris Knight (@Knighter01): Chris Knight is the assistant news editor, senior staff writer and director of driver communications for CATCHFENCE.com. In addition to those roles, he is also known for his public relations duties for a variety of different race teams and an active motorsports sponsor.
Adam Niemeyer (@adamniemeyer): Adam Niemeyer is a NASCAR-affiliate based in Ohio with experience in reporting and writing for multiple news network in the Indiana and Southern Ohio area. He also has his own NASCAR-blog.
Lori Tyler (@lorityler): Lori Tyler is a long-time staff writer at CATCHFENCE.com and one of the original contributors to “He Said, She Said.”
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
• Brad Keselowski embraced his 10th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series following a mysterious debris caution in the late stages of the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Your thoughts on the race?
Chris Knight: I’ll be honest, I really thought most of the race was a bore. It looked like once again that Jimmie Johnson was in total domination and then the last mysterious debris caution reset the field for what I knew was going to be a spectacular finish.
Props to both Brad Keselowski and Kasey Kahne for racing each other hard and clean. It truly was an enjoyable battle to watch. I felt the win was important for Keselowski and the No. 2 Miller Lite team, especially since Joey Logano had won at Michigan. While the team hasn’t been as stout as they were in 2012, this may be the beginning of a huge momentum booster for them to propel into 2014.
Adam Niemeyer: The end was pretty good with Kahne and Keselowski battling door-to-door. That was fun to watch. I really forget what happened before that because it seemed that the Hendrick cars were just straight dominating.
Lori Tyler: It was a good race and a solid run for Brad Keselowski, who hasn’t had the best season.
• Essentially, it wasn’t a good Monday for Michael Waltrip Racing after announcing that Brian Vickers would have to sit out the remaining of the 2013 NASCAR season following the return of a blood clot stemming from a 2010 medical condition. Add insult to injury, MWR also announced Monday afternoon that 15 percent of their workforce would be laid off as the team will only run two full-teams and a partial schedule for the No. 56 Toyota Camry in 2014. A lot to soak in there, what’s your thoughts.
Chris Knight: The saga continues. No matter what way you slice it or dice it, the whole situation for Michael Waltrip Racing has been bad. No one likes to see a sponsor leave, no one wanted to see the repercussions of their actions at Richmond transpire like they did, but it’s reality now. This is the life that they will now have to become accustomed too and they will either make it or break it.
Thankfully, I believe that Rob Kaufman will be the saving grace for MWR. I like Michael Waltrip and I do believe that he is good for the sport to a certain extent, but Kaufman’s business ethics is what is keeping the organization a two-car team in 2014. I just hope the affected employees of the layoff will be able to find jobs for the upcoming season.
As far as Brian Vickers is concerned, no one likes to see him get sick and I hate it. It has me concerned though about his ability to compete in 2014 without any health issues. I’ll pray that my worries are for not. Get well soon Brian.
Adam Niemeyer: I feel bad for the people in the 56 camp who did nothing wrong but are paying the price—literally and figuratively—for what happened at Richmond. I got a kick out of the Bowyer team employee who tweeted on Monday that it was all “the media’s fault” for this happening. I was watching on TV and made a comment to my boss that it seemed kind of funny when it all went down and half an hour later everyone seemed to pick up on what happened at Richmond.
Lori Tyler: This is always tough to hear, but as much as I love MWR, I think there’s a lot to be learned here. Integrity is alive and well in this sport, and sponsors just aren’t willing to sink millions of dollars into a sponsorship that brings their company negative publicity. Let’s hope that not just MWR, but ALL NASCAR teams remember what took place here going forward, and represent these sponsors that are supporting their ability to race the quality representation they deserve.
• In your opinion, what has been the biggest story of 2013?
Chris Knight: Lately, it seems we have something new to talk about every week, but in my eyes, the biggest story has to be centered around Michael Waltrip Racing and their actions at Richmond International Raceway. Whether intentional or not, their decisions have made numerous impacts around the sport, none of which I feel have been good, unless you consider Jeff Gordon being the 13th driver added to the Chase fair, but other than that, I think MWR has set new precedents
Adam Niemeyer: I think the bigger stories that have occurred have all been injuries off the track that have affected action on the track. Tony Stewart’s injury set all sorts of wheels in motion for the 2014 season that we all kind of expected to see (like Brian Vickers full-time in the No. 55, until this week) but also shuffled around drivers like Mark Martin and even allowed Austin Dillon a crack at a Cup weekend in the No. 14. Also, Denny Hamlin’s early season injury shuffled some folks around (Vickers and Martin) for a few weeks and definitely had an impact on the No. 11 team in the long run.
Lori Tyler: Michael Waltrip Racing has been a pretty big story. Precedent setting, wouldn’t you agree?
• Last week, Travis Kvapil was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor assault on a female and false imprisonment after an altercation with his wife. Despite the allegations, BK Racing and NASCAR allowed him to race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Was this the right move? Do you believe that this is a form of inconsistency on NASCAR’s part?
Chris Knight: I really was shocked to hear of the incident about Travis Kvapil. All of my dealings with him have been upbeat, confident and pleasant. However, this is life and things happen. I’m by no means condoning the allegations, but this is the United States of America and it’s innocent until proven guilty.
We don’t know the whole story, only two people do and it’s up for the attorneys and courts to decide who was wrong, even if a person was arrested. I stand by BK Racing’s decision to keep him in the No. 93 Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry. If Travis wasn’t in the car, his mind would be wandering elsewhere and I don’t think that would be a good frame of mind for him to be in.
I only hope that Travis and his wife retain the help that they need to repair the relationship and Kvapil returns to being a good role model for the sport. I don’t think we should axe him over this one incident, but that’s my opinion.
Adam Niemeyer: If NASCAR wasn’t inconsistent I think it would bother all of us much more than their inconsistency does. We almost expect inconsistency from the sanctioning body. Let’s look at the sum of all their actions this season. NASCAR added Jeff Gordon to the Chase because why? Because they could. And don’t get me started on yellow flags at the end of restrictor plate races. Oh, this weekend is a restrictor plate race you say? Oh boy… Keep this question in mind this weekend.
Lori Tyler: This is a tough call. Allegations do not necessarily equal guilt. I don’t think we can automatically assume guilt in this case or any case until, we have confirmation that what is alleged actually occurred. Therefore, I guess I understand NASCAR’s decision to let him race.
• It’s back to the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend. Who’s your favorite? Is it a Chase contender or another dark horse team like Front Row Motorsports?
Chris Knight: I know some people have a love and hate relationship with restrictor plate racing, but I absolutely love it. Bring it on, I say.
Why am I such a fan of it? It offers the chance for someone who may not have the opportunity to run upfront under normal racing conditions to become an equalizer and strut their stuff. Front Row Motorsports is a prime example with their huge 1-2 triumph in May.
I feel though that if an underdog is going to celebrate in victory lane, they’re going to have to get around Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth. I expect all three of those cars to be extremely fast on Sunday. As far as sleepers, I’ve got my eye on David Gilliland, Casey Mears and Cole Whitt.
I wouldn’t mind seeing J.J. Yeley or Michael McDowell have a good run either.
I know that she crashed out at Talladega earlier this year, but if the cards play right into Danica Patrick’s hands, she could notch her second top-10 of the year on Sunday too. She loves this type of racing and the cars that Stewart-Haas Racing fire out, she really might be the biggest underdog of the weekend.
Adam Niemeyer: I really like Ricky Stenhouse Jr. this weekend because in three restrictor plate races this year he’s finished 11th, 12th and 13th. He’s around at the end of these things and he’s got nothing to lose. Plus I know if I make a real prediction and say someone who could actually win they’ll probably wreck out on lap two, so I won’t put a curse on anyone running for a title.
Lori Tyler: I think Matt Kenseth has been pretty tough to beat all season. I am going to predict he does it again!
