 | | Who knew when Ricky Rudd subbed for Tony Stewart last season it would be a warmup for '07? Credit: Autostock |
NASCAR.COM
December 28, 2006
07:06 PM EST (00:06 GMT)
Ricky Rudd: Rejuvenator or recycled? Ryan Smithson: He isn't going to come in and repeat his success from 2000 to 2002, but it would be silly for us to expect him to do that. He will most likely end up around 20th in points with a few top-fives and 7-8 top-10s. More importantly, he will buy RYR some time to find a sponsor. Dave Rodman: There is no question Ricky is 1. Rejuvenated, 2. Capable, 3. Consistent -- but he is 50 and as much as I hate to admit it, due to the negative connotation, that still adds up to "recycled." No way around it after 30 years in the sport. Duane Cross: Both -- he's the shot in the arm that Robert Yates Racing needed after a forgettable 2006 season, but he's also been around the block. Hell, he mapped the block with Lewis & Clark. Still, it's a great hire for Yates -- now put him in the No. 28 and let's go test. Mark Aumann: That's a pretty reasonable expectation, since he was 23rd, 24th and 21st in his last three full seasons. He'll be consistent but not near the front. The question that crosses my mind: If you're hiring a driver that's in his 50s, do you think Dale Jarrett or Ricky Rudd has more left in the tank at this point? Dave Rodman: I think they are about equivalent -- if all 8 cylinders are firing, so to speak. If they got a couple plug wires loose, you'd be better off with a 20-year-old eight days a week. Duane Cross: I'd take Rudd over Jarrett -- Ricky's one-year hiatus has recharged his battery. I think D.J. is going to spend a lot of time beating his head against the wall with the new Toyota (in between cashing big checks, of course). Ryan Smithson: Robert Yates said last week that he dropped his employee count from 150 to 125, while increasing payroll. Well sure, once he added Rudd's seven-figure salary, that naturally increases payroll. Duane Cross: He'll keep the team in the top 35 -- which will be huge for whoever takes over the ride in 2008. Not only huge for on-track, but it says something to potential sponsors, too. Dave Rodman: It isn't that far off by the calendar, but I think 2007 will see a new level of competition in Cup -- if not in individual races, then in the standings. As I always say, if he and Butch Hylton mesh well, they could easily stay in the top 20 and fight for the Chase. Ryan Smithson: Rodman, Rudd won't fight for the Chase. Don't even start.  |  | | "Um, last I checked it was my new boss who was missing races." Credit: Autostock |
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Mark Aumann: That's asking an awful lot in my opinion, Dave, especially when you're looking at trying to leap into a pool already filled with Hendrick, Roush, Gibbs, RCR and DEI. Dave Rodman: Big "if" Smithson -- but I think he can, but again, lotta "ifs" goin' on there -- and I said it myself, that might be too much to deal with in '07 ... Ryan Smithson: One thing that took me a long time to learn: 50-year-old drivers can run a 31-race schedule. They can't run a 36-race one. Duane Cross: Neither of Yates' cars is ready for the Chase. No matter how hot Rudd or Gilliland come out of the box, that program is at least a year behind the curve. Mark Aumann: It's amazing to think that two-car teams are already outmoded. Ryan Smithson: Three-car teams are outmoded, Aumann. Why do you think Gibbs and RCR are trying to form fourth programs? Dave Rodman: More is better, for sure, but I think smaller can still compete. It's just that if they had more cars -- sheesh, look out -- we'd need a 20-car Chase! Duane Cross: To that end -- two-car teams looking to expand -- I think that's exactly why Penske has to be seriously contemplating a move to Toyota. Do not be surprised if Ryan Newman and Matt Borland are together again with Toyota by the end of the decade. Ryan Smithson: Penske will eventually move to Toyota, we all know that. They issued a pretty good non-denial denial last year, only saying their contract with Dodge is through whatever. Translation: Only two more years. Dave Rodman: D.J.'s biggest problem might be continued commitment, if the Toyota doesn't come roaring out of the blocks. If you had a long-term gig, you'd look at it differently, but he doesn't. Then again, two years can be an awfully long time if you're miserable -- and he knows what that is all about. |  | | The 2006 season a down year for Yates? Yeah, but the team ... uh ... started up front at Talladega! Credit: Autostock |
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Ryan Smithson: I'd be miserable for $20 million, guys. And he might not even have to work on Sundays. Ha. Funny thing is, Jarrett/Toyota will be pretty good at Daytona. The party will be over after that. Mark Aumann: It still goes to point out how hard it is for these guys to walk away from the sport and not look back. Ryan Smithson: How can you walk away from half of a $120,000 purse every week? Mark Aumann: At some point, it can't be just about the money, though. It's the adrenaline rush these guys get from being on the very edge. Ryan Smithson: Why can't it be about the money, Aumann? Mark Aumann: But if you've got $20 million in the bank, Ryan, what's $21 or $22? The IRS is just going to bite you harder. Ryan Smithson: Twenty-one is one million more. Twenty-two is two million more. Duane Cross: There's that Tennessee public education in action, folks! Mark Aumann: That's why there are all these charitable causes, to help ease the tax burden. Duane Cross: I said it five years ago -- today's drivers won't be wheelin' it at 40. I do believe, however, we'll see more part-time gigs and maybe even big-name drivers stepping in for stretch runs to the Chase and in the 10-race playoffs. Mark Aumann: Well, the Busch Series has already evolved into a multi-driver, multi-sponsor beast. Dave Rodman: I think what matters is what you have going. Look at Rusty Wallace. He is totally satisfied -- though time-strapped. Then again, not everyone is lucky enough to have a 19-year-old hot-rodder as well as two other great kids in the family -- so kudos to him and Pattie. Duane Cross: If a car owner and sponsor offered Rusty a 20-race gig with a team competing for a Chase berth, he'd be back behind the wheel tomorrow. Ryan Smithson: Today. Dave Rodman: I don't think Rusty would come back under any circumstance. Unless he really wasn't thinking -- and I don't know about that. Mark Aumann: And what does Rusty do? Get right back in the car this month. Dave Rodman: I think Toyota's fuse might be short in Nextel Cup. They will go 10 races into 2007, and if things aren't looking exactly as they like they will be looking at restructuring. Ryan Smithson: Restructure how, Rodman? Be more specific. And quick. Duane Cross: If that's the case, Toyota better be advance planning -- yesterday. Dave Rodman: Well, Duane, we're on the same page. They might already be doing that -- looking at alternative teams and better organizations if they have to. Duane Cross: Each of the makes should be looking to resource their energies for the betterment of all the teams that drive their cars. Toyota has the chance -- more so than Dodge -- to really affect the future of the sport. Toyota can make it a true "brand" on race day. It'll be interesting to see if it goes that way with its teams. Ryan Smithson: Toyota doesn't have any star drivers. That is a problem they can't overcome. Dave Rodman: But they have capable ones. So if everything else lines up as it should, they'll be OK. But what I am saying, if they struggle or are too discombobulated -- look out. Duane Cross: Not at the moment -- but getting good engineers and crew chiefs is step one. I like the way Toyota is approaching this. The driving talent will be put in place after the foundation is solidly in place. Ryan Smithson: As long as they don't expect success right away, that formula is fine. Mark Aumann: And as Ryan pointed out, money can overcome a lot of things. Duane Cross: Toyota has a young Brian Vickers -- he's the guy to bank on over the long haul. I'm still iffy about A.J. Allmendinger. The rest of the drivers are making laps until the next batch of talent comes in. I know that sounds harsh, but it's the cold, hard bottom line. Mark Aumann: Or other driver contracts expire. Dave Rodman: You guys are short selling everyone in the Nextel Cup garage. These guys are pretty good, gentlemen, across the board. After that, it's chemistry and circumstances and financing and all the other little bits that add up to most of what Hendrick, Roush, Childress and Gibbs have going right now. Ryan Smithson: Rodman thinks that all 43 drivers are capable of winning every week. That simply isn't true. Mark Aumann: Of course, Dave's still sore that H.B. Bailey never won the Daytona 500. |  | | "I had as many victories in 2006 as Carl Edwards." Credit: Autostock |
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| Inside the Numbers |
Lowest ranked drivers to win
(Since 2000) |
| Year |
Driver |
Rank |
| 2006 |
Kurt Busch |
16 |
| 2005 |
Kasey Kahne |
23 |
| 2004 |
Joe Nemechek |
19 |
| 2003 |
Ricky Craven |
27 |
| 2002 |
Jamie McMurray* |
46 |
| 2001 |
Robby Gordon# |
41 |
| 2000 |
Jeremy Mayfield |
24 |
|
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Dave Rodman: Ryan, not every week in the situations they are in, obviously. But the pure talent is not as far apart as the situations render it -- that should not be hard to figure out. Mark Aumann: Really? You don't think Tony Stewart has any more talent than Michael Waltrip? Or Jeff Gordon? Or Jimmie Johnson? Or any of the Roush guys? Wow. It's RC racing on a million dollar scale! It was all economics. Ryan Smithson: Rodman is just bitter that Todd Bodine made less money than Tony Raines last year. Dave Rodman: Now Smithson, that is truly a dumb statement. Duane Cross: Bodine should be bitter that he made less money than Raines -- who didn't run the full season and didn't come close to winning a championship in one of the three major series. ... But that's an argument for another day. Dave Rodman: All you have to look at is last place in the respective races: $60,000 adds up faster than $9,500 no matter what language you're speaking. Duane Cross: Not selling everyone else short -- it's just that Toyota has gone after some of the most creative up-and-comers. Of course there are still other talented people in the garage. Toyota couldn't buy everyone. Ryan Smithson: Off subject: What in the heck ever happened to the Kinleys? Duane Cross: The great equalizer -- the COT. If Toyota hits its marks, it could catapult past a few of the big dogs. Seems all the Toyota guys are gushing over the COT. That could pay off in 2007 and reap major dividends in '08. Mark Aumann: That's really going to be a story to watch -- how the fans take to the new chassis. Dave Rodman: I was about to say that someone ought to compute "Car of Tomorrow Standings" next season. In other words, the Nextel Cup standings just for the COT races. Duane Cross: NASCAR.COM will have that, Dave. Mark Aumann: I'd pay to see a Car of Yesterday race, by the way. Ryan Smithson: Rodman is hoping Bodine wins the COT standings. Dave Rodman: I don't know that a part-time team like the Germains could be in the top 15 even, given that running a full Nextel Cup schedule is a great benefit over a partial schedule by any team. Duane Cross: Question from a fan about the COT ... How will it affect the ARCA, Hooters, etc. racers who use "stock" cars for their lifeblood? Dave Rodman: Those series would be wise to enable their rules to absorb cast-off NASCAR hardware, as I believe they currently do. Ryan Smithson: I highly doubt NASCAR ever thought of that for more than five minutes, Duane. Besides, that question is years away. Duane Cross: Year -- 2008 -- not years. Ryan Smithson: Duane, teams will still have a lot of new cars to sell even in 2008. Duane Cross: If all goes well in 2007 (and no reason to think it won't, from NASCAR's perspective), we're likely to see 2008 as the year. Mark Aumann: Well, for now, there will be a lot of available rolling stock. In the future, those series may have to decide whether to go the COT route or go the prefab bodies. Ryan Smithson: I guess no one cares whatever happened to the Kinleys, which is sad, because they were hot. So up y'all. Back to Gerald Ford updates. Dave Rodman: Wild Bill Kinley was a helluva Sportsman racer in FASCAR. Don't know what happened to him. Duane Cross: Nov. 5 was the Kinleys' birthday -- did you remember, Ryan? ... Didn't think so. |  | | The Kinleys -- and most likely Ryan Smithson -- will be at Puckett's Grocery in Franklin, Tenn., on Saturday, Jan. 27. Credit: thekinleys.net |
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Dave Rodman: This is NASCAR.COM, I believe. Duane Cross: Or FASCAR.com, whichever you prefer ... Ryan Smithson: Oh, Rodman, you only say that because you are the only one who didn't Google Britney Spears getting out of a limo last month. Dave Rodman: I wasn't even tempted -- and am afraid to ask... Duane Cross: Back in the day, the Kinleys were smokin' like Robby Gordon coming to pit road. Dave Rodman: We are currently flipping down the backstretch at Daytona. Aarrgghhh. Duane Cross: Aarrgghhh ... great word, Charlie Brown! And for the record, Ryan -- the Kinleys do "writer's night" around Nashville. Mark Aumann: Wow. I had to Google them to see what y'all were talking about. They're playing Puckett's Grocery on the 27th of January. In Franklin, Tenn. Salute! Duane Cross: Heeeeeeeeee Haw! The opinions expressed are solely of the participants. | 
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