• Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway is on deck this weekend. The Aaron’s Dream weekend. In the past, Talladega hasn’t been exactly a dream for most drivers and teams. However, the Gen-6 car has never raced there. What do you expect? Will we see drafting and side-by-side racing?
Erin Crocker Evernham: I think there will be more side by side racing than there was at Daytona, but I still expect the race to be pretty uneventful until the last 50 laps or so.
Chris Knight: Some people really hate restrictor plate racing, I tend to really enjoy restrictor plate racing. My biggest reason that I embrace this type of racing is because I enjoy seeing guys like Casey Mears, Michael McDowell, J.J. Yeley, David Stremme, David Ragan and David Gilliland (man, that’s a lot of David’s there) receive the opportunity to race near the front. Sometimes, if everything works out, they’re even in the hunt for the win. I just pray that it’s a safe race and the weather cooperates.
Adam Niemeyer: I hate restrictor plate racing because no one is ever satisfied with it. People hated the tandem thing, people couldn’t stand the packs, people hate to see their favorite driver get taken out in a wreck that he didn’t start. I expect to see some of the same things we saw at Daytona, and because of that I expect to see a Hendrick car (who knows, maybe Junior) at the front at the end.
Jason Sciavicco: I think more of the same. Everyone will see the same pack racing, destroyed race cars and then at the end it will be what line moves the best. It’s the longest foreplay imaginable!
AnnMarie Strawhand: I think it will be very much like Daytona and I expect that will be actually good for some teams who have been struggling the last few weeks and the ones that did well at Daytona can get some mojo back working here, that is much needed for team morale.
Lori Tyler: I think it will be great racing, if Daytona was any preview. This Gen-6 car has been impressive in its debut, and it continues to impress as the season marches forward. I am looking forward to seeing competitive, close racing at Talladega and I believe the Gen-6 car will deliver on that expectation.
NASCAR Nationwide Series:
• Brad Keselowski won from the pole Friday night in the ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond International Raceway. Many suspected Kyle Busch would continue his dominance and win the race. Your thoughts on the race and the win for Keselowski?
Chris Knight: Brad Keselowski dethroned Kyle Busch’s glory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at least for a race. I wished there would have been a little more Nationwide regulars in the mix, but we sure did see some fireworks near the end.
Also, I’m glad that Dexter Stacey is okay after his hard wreck at Richmond. His incident was so violent that’s he sidelined for this weekend at Talladega and Tim Andrews will get the nod for the No. 92 Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon.
Adam Niemeyer: Finally someone not named Kyle Busch took a win in the Nationwide Series—that’s certainly a new development for this year. I think Brad is always going to be good in the Nationwide Series, and he’s proved it by beating Kyle Busch at a track Busch is usually unstoppable at.
Jason Sciavicco: Brad won??? I was busy watching some grown (used lightly) man kick another from man below the belt…. Really? PK’s man card should be revoked!
AnnMarie Strawhand: Keselowski is a man on a mission and I think he is on a bit of a ‘haha I will show you, NASCAR’ thing going on. He is a great racer and I love how down to earth and authentic he is. He is good for the fans and the sport overall.
Lori Tyler: Great race, as usual. It was a good day for Keselowski and team.
• Brian Scott and Nelson Piquet Jr. had a run-in in the final sector of the Nationwide Series race on Friday night which led to an altercation on pit road after the race, where Piquet kicked Scott in the groin. Fair play? Should Piquet be penalized for his actions? Also, two members of Richard Childress Racing were arrested Friday night after a quarrel with Piquet in the driver / owner motorhome lot. Should disagreements between drivers be left to just drivers or is it okay for crew members to get involved?
Erin Crocker Evernham: I didn’t get to see how it all played out so hard to judge on the penalties for Brian and Nelson. I do think that disagreements should be left to drivers or handled right after the race. I don’t think it’s fair game for crew members to attack a driver outside of the track.
Chris Knight: Brian Scott let Nelson Piquet Jr. know that he wasn’t a happy camper at the end of the race with some door slamming. He then tried to talk to Piquet after the race, but was interrupted by a kick to the groin by the Brazilian.
That really isn’t something that Scott was expecting nor anyone else for that matter. I understand if there’s some yelling, screaming and even some punches thrown from time-to-time, but to kick someone beneath the belt, that’s just uncalled for. It could have turned out a lot worse.
I understand that the crews were frustrated, but what happened later in the night, should NOT have happened. I’m not sure who started it, but the RCR crew members should have been smart enough just to walk away without any assault. I understand that they employees are at least for now still employed by RCR and that just shows the loyalty that Richard Childress has to them. Some think that they should have been dismissed, but that’s not for us to decide.
As far as I’m concerned, “Boys have at it” applies to “everyone” in the garage, not just the drivers, it keeps the sport in the limelight. But, when it extends to the circumstances that it did later that night at Richmond, that’s what the police are for.
Adam Niemeyer: I’m not sure where I fall on whether or not Piquet should be penalized but the incident in the motorhome lot isn’t good for the sport at all. I love seeing the driver’s show some passion and I understand that the crew members want to defend their driver who they see as part of the team—which I agree with—but I don’t like seeing guys get arrested. It just puts a bad light on the sport.
Jason Sciavicco: Racing is an emotional sport. There are a lot of people involved in a race team that put a lot on the line beside just the drivers. When you wreck someone on purpose you are wrecking the driver along with the chassis specialist, body guys (and gals) shock people, crew chief, under car guys, finish work shop etc, Etc. Lots of love and hours involved. Cops shouldn’t be involved, everything else is fair game! Does boys have at it mean just drivers?
AnnMarie Strawhand: This is very in-appropriate behavior and I think he (Nelson) should be penalized, and I also agree with law-enforcement arresting these crew members. The motorhome lot also has driver’s families and is the home away from home for them! This is no different than if you were in a peaceful neighborhood and disturbing the peace. The crew members need to stay out of it and deal with it in the pit area only and leave it there.
Lori Tyler: I admit, I was a bit shocked by this. It was definitely an unfortunate incident, and I hate that anyone was injured or charged with a misdemeanor. However, this sport breeds emotion and has been known in the past to spill over into physical confrontations. It’s human nature, really. It appears that the only reason law enforcement was involved was because it took place outside the race track. I hope for a swift resolution to all involved.
