NASCAR: Kicking Aside the Phoenix Sagebrush
First, what we do know after Fridays NNS event:
We know that Busch character is stout, very stout. Baby Busch picked up his second consecutive NNS win of the season, and second-straight at PIR. Flipper, or Phlipper as Charlie would probably call him, ain’t too bad either but came up a bit short.
Ragan, Bliss and Leicht all had excellent days finishing in the five through seven holes respectively. As a west coast driver (Oregon) Bliss has run at PIR many times so it’s not surprising he was in contention near the end. And what can you say about Liecht other than he’s been consistently near the top, when he’s entered in a NNS event, and he’s making the 150 g’s price tag he pays to run each week worth every penny.
Dario “Don’t Call Me Mr Judd” Franchitti drove his Dodge from the 13th hole at the green and improved that by 2 spots across the checkered flag. Again, another performance not at all surprising to me. He’s been caught in the in and out top 35 morass that’s hurt his chance. The guy can drive and has a big advantage over some the “transfers,” many miles driven on ovals, it can’t be understated how important that is.
Maybe it’s me but I see a certain symmetry in Scott Gaylord’s 43rd place finish. He only completed 2 laps and parked the Bennett Classics Museum Ford. Completing 2 miles in a 200 mile race is damn close to being a museum.
Things you may have missed:
Can we call Robby Gordon’s dedication to NASCAR suspect now?
P.J. Jones will sub in Robby Gordon’s #7 Dodge during practice and qualifying at Talladega in two weeks. Gordon will be competing in the “postponed” Central Dakar Rally. Jones could race if Gordon’s return from Hungary is delayed.
Here’s the problem as I see it. The Central Dakar Rally wasn’t “postponed,” it didn’t exist when Gordon signed contacts to compete in the originally scheduled Dakar rally in January. He’s not under, or shouldn’t be under any contractual obligations now. It’s his choice to be running the event a third of the way around the world.
Part of his rhetoric during the entire nose-gate bruhaha was the cash lost by Dakar being suspended and how if any penalties were upheld he may try to run the Indy500/Charlotte double due to his season being jeopardized by the loss of points.
So, what’s different now? Granted even if Robby doesn’t come back the owner’s points would count, but… he’s the driver of the #7. As such he’s the one that sponsors pay to see drive, not P.J. Jones. Robby’s the owner/driver crying croc tears for everyone to see and now he’s more concerned about a rally than Talladega.
The guy is stuck on stupid.
Phlipper…too phunny.
Two things. Mike Bliss is underrated as a driver,and I think I know at least one reason. We had him as a guest ON PIT ROW a few weeks ago. Very accomidating, knowledgable and obviously passionate about his - then - Fitz Motorsports team. But he just isn’t as pollished a public speaker as most of the other - many arguably less tallented - driver guests that we’ve had. I think that may have cost him opportunities do drive for better teams.
Second, I will cut Robby more slack on this than you. I am admittedly a Robby fan. Check out the story on the “show” page at Oonpitrow.com for one reason. I think that a large part of the sponsorship cash that RGM generated for the original Dakar in contingent on running whatever the 2008 Dakar becomes, which is the one you write about here. I spoke with a rep from Jim Beam at the recent Detroit Tiger opening day, of all places, and that company’s corporate love for Robby was VERY obvious. I’m betting that JB is behind Gordon’s decision in a supportive way. He is, I think, trying to live up to a sponsor commitment in the Dakar deal. Other sponsors will take notice.
Not sure I buy the Jim Beam thing Charlie, at least not totally.
Beam already has a presence in the rally sport with the Turkish team. Granted, it’s not as high a profile Robby because of name recognition and he being in the vehicle class vice the Turkish motorcycle squad but it is a presence non-the-less.
That aside, Robby’s entire NASCAR presence, to hear him tell it, is on performing well and maintaining his sponsors and gaining new ones if possible.
I don’t buy for a hot second slotting P.J. Jones into the #7 at Talladega will aid that effort in any way.