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Marcos Ambrose was a victim in Pocono, but expect him to be up front at The Glen.Smack: If this is Pocono, then Pocono just got good
Hornaday's streak impressive, Watkins Glen or Infineon?
By NASCAR.COM
August 6, 2009
02:59 PM EDT
August 6, 2009
02:59 PM EDT
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1. What the heck happened at Pocono on Monday? Side-by-side racing? Guys banging off one another? Is this is the new face of racing at the big triangle?
Joe Menzer: I tell you what: I didn't have that race on my schedule, so I tuned in on television. But I thought it was a great race -- especially the last 40 laps or so. If that's the new face of Pocono, bring it on!
David Caraviello: Double-file restarts, it seems, may be the best thing to happen to Pocono since that half-mile-long restroom. The racing the last 50 laps or so was anything but boring, which is what we've come to expect from the place. It was almost ... desperate, which makes for great TV.
Raygan Swan: I remember I went for a corn dog at Pocono in June and came back like 30 minutes later and hadn't missed a thing. Monday I was on the edge of my seat and cried my eyes out at the end! Denny Hamlin gave me my favorite Victory Lane moment yet.
Joe Menzer: Wait a minute. You "cried your eyes out at the end?" Do you attribute that to the racing or to, um, your current hormonal state?
Raygan Swan: Hamlin and the hormones. It's not that often we see such raw emotion from these drivers, or get to see them in such a vulnerable state.
David Caraviello: Well, I wouldn't say I cried my eyes out ... I only do that when the Braves lose. But it was kind of stunning everything that race featured -- the intensity at the front of the pack, guys mad at each other afterward, and Denny Hamlin clearly emotional. I kept asking myself, "this is Pocono, right?" Sure didn't seem like it. And that's a good thing.
Joe Menzer: Ah, yes. The Hamlin factor. It was indeed emotional to see him climb out of the car in Victory Lane after trying to compose himself. A great story, and great for television, too -- although obviously that's not why it happened. It was genuine on Denny's part, and that's what made it so compelling.
Writer's Block
Raygan Swan compares Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman not on the track ... but on a pizza.
Joe Menzer tries to follow Jimmie Johnson's lead and it doesn't go well.
David Caraviello gets excited about the Brickyard going back to the Brickyard.
David Caraviello: I only wish Juan Montoya would have challenged him at the end -- but he's racing to get into the Chase, and that's what you do at this point in the season.
Raygan Swan: Agree, and the race had so many compelling storylines -- Juan looking for redemption, Kyle Busch proving he was capable of leading through adversity, Tony Stewart coming from the back ... so much to watch in one race.
Joe Menzer: My wife says whenever I do something, I always seek credit. So I'll go along with it and ask you two to name the guy who said three weeks ago that Montoya would soon win a race.
David Caraviello: I believe that was Dave Rodman.
Joe Menzer: Um, no. Guess again?
David Caraviello: Ryan Smithson? Because picking Juan Montoya to win is just what he does.
Raygan Swan: Joe, it was Bill Kimm. Anyway, but by far my favorite part of the race was when Denny radioed to crew chief Mike Ford and said, "I'm going to win this race." Awesome stuff!
Joe Menzer: It was me, dang it. Me, I say!
Raygan Swan: Sorry Joe, I have pregnancy brain. Really, it was you?
David Caraviello: You? Dude, you've been on vacation for like six weeks. I can't remember that far back. Anyway, let's not get too carried away. For Pocono, it was a stunningly good race. But they still need to lop 100 miles off that sucker.
Joe Menzer: And now I'll tell you that this week might be the time Montoya finally gets to Victory Lane. Although you are right, DC2, he backed off at the end at Sonoma to take a good points day and he's obsessed, rightly so, with making sure he makes the Chase. It has taken three years of tinkering with the car and for him to figure out the give-and-take of this NASCAR Cup deal, but Montoya now is one to watch as the Chase approaches. Once the points are reset, look out.
David Caraviello: Maybe they should race on Mondays in Pocono more often. Make it a tradition, like Fourth of July at Daytona. Hey, it worked this week. Maybe one reason the racing was so crazy was because everybody was in a hurry to get home!
Raygan Swan: Ha, good point. I could see that. Mondays to drivers are like our Friday nights.
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2. Ron Hornaday has now won five consecutive races on the Camping World Truck Series. How big of an accomplishment is this?
Joe Menzer: He has? Really? I wasn't paying that close attention ... aw, come on, folks. I'm just kidding! In all seriousness, hats off to Hornaday. Five wins in a row in any of NASCAR's top three touring series is a major accomplishment. And it draws some positive attention to the Truck Series, which deserves it.
Raygan Swan: Guys, I think this is major, and major for a couple of reasons. It keeps Kevin Harvick off suicide watch, and seems to be improving some ratings for the Truck Series. And Joe, I know you were on the beach, but I also know you had your laptop.
David Caraviello: For the trucks, this is a very big deal. They have a classy, talkative guy dominating that series. He's kind of in a Mark Martin mold in terms of the fan base he appeals to. Now, if only they could do something with it. Perhaps because of its TV contract, the trucks kind of exist in a vacuum. That doesn't diminish what Hornaday's done, but it does temper the impact somewhat.
Raygan Swan: David, I agree. I was surprised I didn't hear more about this historical accomplishment
High five
Relive each of Ron Hornaday's five consecutive Truck Series victories.
David Caraviello: But the fact that he's doing this after General Motors pulled its support of Kevin Harvick Inc. makes it even more impressive. Hornaday is beating those Toyotas even though financially he's not on an even playing field.
Joe Menzer: I do think Hornaday would get a bit of a laugh out of being compared to Mark Martin -- and being called a "classy, talkative" guy. I see Mark as a fitness buff who had his last cheeseburger and beer in like 1979. Hornaday probably had his last cheeseburger yesterday. And you know he likes his beer!
Raygan Swan: And I'm not going to try and understand how the team has pulled off five in a row, but Hornaday is so relaxed and enjoying himself. His best quote was something like, "I know every time I get in the truck, I have a chance to win, and with my kids grown now I don't have to worry about putting shoes on their feet."
David Caraviello: Well, Joe, Ron is a little like Martin in that he's a little older, and appeals to the same demographic. And Ron is classy and talkative. He'll talk your ear off, and he's been a great help to many an up-and-coming driver.
Joe Menzer: Hornaday is old school. You've got to love that. Heck, Kevin Harvick once slept on his couch back in the day -- you know, before Kevin Harvick was Kevin Harvick.
Raygan Swan: Dude, everyone is old in the Truck Series. Kidding, but seriously it's nice for the old guys to know they've still got it and can still whoop up on Kyle Busch, I suppose.
David Caraviello: Of course, he's also racing in a series that's been seriously watered down by sponsorship issues, which clearly affects the competition. And watching NASCAR's "other" TV partner -- you know, the one that shows the Cup races -- you wouldn't know the Truck Series exists. Of course, that same TV partner feels like it can manipulate race names for its own benefit, too, so maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise.
Joe Menzer: What tells you a lot about Ron Hornaday is that he was letting guys like Kevin Harvick grab a couch back when Hornaday was still trying to put shoes on his kids' feet. Back when he was struggling to make it himself. That speaks volumes about the character of the man.
David Caraviello: And he goes for six in a row Aug. 19 at Bristol.
Joe Menzer: The competition may be watered down some in the Truck Series, but last time I checked you still had Kyle Busch running in a fair amount of the races. And Mike Skinner and others are still in there battling. Don't make it sound like this has been easy.
David Caraviello: Oh, no one's saying winning in any NASCAR series is easy. But clearly, the Trucks have been hit hardest by sponsorship and manufacturer issues. I mean, the defending champion doesn't even have a ride. Of course, Hornaday is dealing with many of the same issues, and beating them along with the rest of the field.
Joe Menzer: The only negative I see out of this is that the last two years, it came down to the final race at Homestead -- heck, the final laps of the final race -- to determine the Truck champion. This year, Hornaday is a runaway, so there will be no such drama.
David Caraviello: Maybe that means we'll have some in Cup for a change!
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3. It's on to the road course at Watkins Glen, N.Y., which begs the question -- which road layout is better, Watkins or Infineon Raceway? And do any of the ringers stand a chance this week?
David Caraviello: OK, I love Infineon. Love it. Best trip on the circuit. I could go out to those dusty hills --and wine country, and San Francisco, and the spectacular Pacific coastline -- once a month. And Infineon is great on TV, given all the elevation changes. But Watkins is a superspeedway with a few kinks thrown in. It's spectacularly fast. It's a whole different animal, and a much better race track, I think.
Raygan Swan: Well, I may be totally wrong but when was the last race won by a ringer? Late '70s? I don't know. I get sick of hearing about ringers. The regular Cup guys know how to drive these things on road courses by now. And I like The Glen far more because of its speed.
Montoya mania
Mike Bell says this Watkins Glen is the place Juan Montoya breaks through and captures his first win of 2009.
Joe Menzer: I guess I'm partial to Sonoma, but probably only because I've been a regular the last few years working that race at Infineon. I really like that layout and think the races there have been great. And anytime I can make a trip to the San Fran area -- I'm partial to Fisherman's Wharf over wine country, but then I'm a beer drinker -- I'm all for it. Dinner at Scoma's, followed by a stroll down the Wharf. Doesn't get any better than that.
David Caraviello: OK, Joe, but what about the race track? You forgot to mention that part. One pace car ride around Watkins Glen -- with the tires squealing in the curves, hitting 100 mph at the end of those long straightaways -- made me a believer.
Joe Menzer: Ah, yes. The race track. Maybe we should get back to that ... I think Watkins Glen is very interesting with its long straightaways and yet 11 turns mixed in. No doubt about it. I haven't yet had the pleasure of working a race at the Glen -- I think it's one of only three tracks I have yet to visit in my three years on this job -- so that probably taints my vote in this case.
Raygan Swan: Um, I hate California and love the lakes up north. I stayed in a bed and breakfast last time at Watkins Glen, Tony won the race, and I had organic breakfast every morning.
David Caraviello: Wow. Tony Stewart and clean eating. That's a dream weekend for Raygan Swan.
Raygan Swan: I know, and as for the Glen over Sonoma, I think the Glen is more of a team track whereas Sonoma is more in the drivers' hands. Jeff Gordon says you really have to know how to finesse the throttle there. And guys, Sonoma and wine country are useless to a pregnant woman.
David Caraviello: I know this is off-topic, but how can you hate California? I know it's broke, and can be struck by an earthquake at any second, but the place is beautiful. Of course, so is the Finger Lakes region of New York. Ithaca, though, is no San Fran.
Raygan Swan: Ithaca! Amazing, and smells clean and looks green. And I had amazing pizza on the campus there.
David Caraviello: Well, I've never smelled Ithaca that closely, but I'll take your word for it.
Joe Menzer: Not surprising that the Pizza Queen enjoyed an amazing pizza on the campus of Ithaca College now, is it? It doesn't matter that much what we think on this topic, compared to what the drivers think. We get off too easily on the off-the-track amenities. They actually compare the quality of the two tracks for the racing they produce.
David Caraviello: Yeah, but you know what? We don't live in a motor home lot for four days, either. I really think race fans would get more out of their trips if they struck out a little to see what some of these places had to offer. I mean, I know they're there to watch racing. But how long can you sit on top of an RV?
Joe Menzer: There we go again, getting off the track. But I hear you, buddy. You gotta live and branch out, even when you're in town for a race. Then again, some of those folks have everything they need right at their campsites!
David Caraviello: As for the ringers, I don't know how much of a threat they'll be, given that they're not exactly in top-notch cars. This one could come down to two former ringers, though, in Montoya and Marcos Ambrose. Ambrose was third there last year and JPM is always a threat on a road course.
Raygan Swan: Branching out is the best part of the race weekend. I do some of my best shopping on race weekends! And as for ringers, I agree David, though maybe Patrick Carpentier will show us something running for Michael Waltrip Racing.
Joe Menzer: Ambrose and Montoya really went at it in Sonoma. But in the end, Ambrose was driving far more aggressively going for the win and put a couple of great moves on Montoya, who backed off and settled for sixth. They'll be in the mix at the front again at The Glen.
David Caraviello: And I will be in the mix to find some of that legendary organic pizza!
Joe Menzer: If Montoya and Ambrose are toward the front again this weekend, it will be interesting to see if Montoya backs off in search of protecting a good points day again this time. I say no, that he's too hungry for a win and will go for it. I hope so, anyway. Ambrose probably would celebrate a victory with a Vegemite Pizza from Down Under.
David Caraviello: Yeah, what would you think of that one, Pizza Queen?
Raygan Swan: Um, I'm open minded, but no Vegemite please.
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