Break Out the Rain Tires: We’re Tight in Turn 2

There is a consensus among people who should know in NASCAR that 3,400 lb, 800-horsepowered race cars can’t race in the rain, at least on ovals.

There’s less agreement that road course racing in the wet is doable.  Especially after this year’s Montreal Nationwide Series swim meet.

If NASCAR was ever going to give round-track rain racing a shot, this coming weekend at Richmond International Raceway might be the perfect opportunity.  It looks to be wet.  Real wet.

Hanna is coming. As in...currently tropical storm, maybe Hurricane Hanna.  And she is heading for the North Carolina and Virginia coasts.  Expect delays.

Those who have tickets to Saturday night’s Race to the Chase finale may need some patience.  If they are Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans, patience may be in short supply.

Many, if not most, Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans seem to be disappointed in Junior’s season so far in 2008. Are they justified?

Charlie: Some of the members of ”Green Nation” will never be happy unless Junior is allowed to drive the black No. 3 car. Others still feel that his stepmother should give him DEI and get out of the way.

Many just blame everything that doesn’t go perfectly on Tony Eury Jr. For most of 2008, Earnhardt’s No.88 has been the best of the Hendrick Motorsports teams. Until a couple races ago, he had been in second place in Sprint Cup points, somewhat ironically, behind the driver who he replaced at Hendrick, Kyle Busch.

He broke a two-year Cup race winless streak at MIS. He won his qualifier race at Daytona and the Bud Shootout. He has a chance to win the Sprint Cup itself.

No. They are not justified. They are fans.

Bruce: I recognize that Jr. has just had one of his best seasons in living memory. For the fan, that’s pretty neat to see. We knew he had something in him, and it’s nice to see that perspective justified.

On the other hand: It’s too late for him to have anything to do with DEI. They “not” in negotiations to sell the place. If you’ve ever listened to the radio between Jr. and Jr., it’s a circus sometimes.

I think Eury Jr. is the only one who can put up with Dale Jr., and that’s why he’s there. Now if they’d just get it more together, they might be able to pull off a better race.

It’s a team effort. An effort to win, and an effort to lose. Case in point: They are now fourth in the standings. Once they get that communication issue out of the way (Will they ever?) I think they’ll get their act together. (That is once Kyle Busch cools down.)

Until then, the unjustified finger pointing by the fan(atical) nation of
green, that was red, will keep on going. At least it’s nice to see fans sticking with their driver as opposed to the checkered-flag-chasing fans.

That’s what Bruce (NASCAR Bits and Pieces blog) and I, Charlie of the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie, think. What do you think?

And go to Bruce’s blog to express yourself on this topic too…

Bruce wants to know who will get in the Chase. Will Kyle Busch be able to keep it together to win the Cup?