Winston Cup & IRL – So Where Do They Stand Right Now?
The actual halfway portion of the Winston Cup season does not come until
Chicagoland in mid-July, but with the pending end of the June swing the halfway
portion of the calendar approaches, and quite a bit has happened in fifteen
races so far. So it makes some sense to take a look at where the various teams
involved in the season stand approaching July.
CHEVROLET TEAMS –
EARNHARDT INC. –
#1 Steve Park
#8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
#15 Michael Waltrip
An organization that showed such tremendous promise at the very beginning of
the season has been one of the great downfalls of the year. Dale Junior
dominated the Die Hard 500 with the usual assistance from blocking back Mikey
Waltrip, but other than that has been MIA all season.
Steve Park’s comeback at Darlington was an adrenaline rush – literally; once
the adrenaline high of the first run since his injury wore off, his efforts
plummeted, and now it is big news if he finishes in the top twenty – to the
point where his future with the team is still in doubt.
Mikey Waltrip’s future was also in the verge of the guillotine, but Richard
Labbe has managed what was once thought impossible – he’s reigned in Waltrip and
made him a more consistent up-front runner. It was news when Mikey finished in
the top ten at Charlotte – since then he did it at Pocono and then finished
fourth at Michigan. So the #15 is suddenly worth taking seriously again.
The organization in its entirety has been subject of rumors, with persistent
rumor-mongering that it will be sold, either to Richard Childress (a claim
Childress insists is not true) or even to Budweiser. So far nothing of the kind
has panned out.
MORGAN-MCCLURE MOTORSPORTS –
#4 Mike Skinner
Once a consistent front-runner, now just another back marker, the future
looks hopeless for both driver and team.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS –
#5 Terry Labonte
#24 Jeff Gordon
#25 Joe Nemechek
#48 Jimmie Johnson
Terry Labonte’s efforts have not gotten much better and Michigan brought crew
chief Jim Long a hefty fine for an illegal fuel cell, while the #25 saw its crew
chief fired, then its driver, and now has Joe Nemechek and his long-time GN crew
chief Brian Pattie. The handful of races run so far has not been enough to gauge
where they’re going.
On the other hand, it isn’t difficult to gauge where Jimmie Johnson is going
– right now he could be the first rookie to win the Winston Cup championship.
His team co-"owner" Jeff Gordon has also improved from a slow start of
the season, but has not really threatened to win so far – he spent most of the
Michigan 400 a lap down and was more than a tad lucky to unlap himself.
RCR ENT.
#29 Kevin Harvick
#30 Jeff Green
#31 Robby Gordon
Even more pronounced than the fall of DEI has been the collapse of Richard
Childress’ team. Kevin Harvick’s future was all but ended according to rumor
control central, though now a three-year extension may be in the works.
Regardless, almost nothing – other than some strong runs by Robby Gordon and
some decent consistency by Jeff Green – has gone right for this organization
outside of wins in Grand National, and the rest of the season doesn’t exactly
seethe with confidence for them, though Childress and Robby Gordon’s future
appears on the verge of being secured with a possible long term deal.
ANDY PETREE RACING –
#33 Mike Wallace
#55 Bobby Hamilton
Their season effectively ended with the Daytona 500, and now Dallas Cowboys
chief cowboy Jerry Jones has been all but confirmed as the new owner, with Fords
in the pipeline from Penske South – ex-Mayfield #12s from 2001 liquidated at
open auction – and new drivers all but certain for two cars to be campaigned in
2003.
Petree has reportedly squabbled with Jones over percentages of control, and
given that Ford has not shown any particular interest in Petree, the rumor
persists of a Petree-Childress reunion.
Bobby Hamilton nonetheless has managed two top tens and is a serious
candidate for several rides, including the Wood Brothers #21 or the Petty
Enterprises #44 – a more logical choice given his Dodge involvement in the
Trucks and his background with Kyle’s team.
DODGE TEAMS –
EVERNHAM MOTORSPORTS –
#7 Casey Atwood
#9 Bill Elliott
#19 Jeremy Mayfield
A change of crew chiefs for Ray Evernham’s satellite team co-owned by Jim
Smith paid some dividends at Pocono, but overall the effort has struggled quite
seriously all season. Bill Elliott has also struggled but has shown signs of a
full turnaround with excellent efforts at Pocono (derailed by engine failure)
and Michigan. Teammate Jeremy Mayfield’s hot start (two top fives including
second at Vegas) has frozen up now with back to back misery in June’s super speedway
swing.
BILL DAVIS RACING –
#22 Ward Burton
#23 Hut Stricklin
A press release stated that Bill Davis was upset that Hut Stricklin’s effort
was weaker than the effort of the team’s driver Dave Blaney in 2001. True
enough, but this subtle slam rings quite hollow given the ominous fall of Davis’
primary #22 team, which saw back to back blown engines, has struggled more and
more to stay on the lead lap, has not had a top ten since the Atlanta 500, and
which falls further and further down in points. Stricklin, in contrast, has
begun to finish better and with greater consistency.
GANASSI/SABCO RACING –
#40 Sterling Marlin
#41 Jimmy Spencer
Dodge’s powerhouse has cooled somewhat lately, especially Jimmy Spencer, who
has struggled with greater frequency since his second at Bristol. Sterling
Marlin ran poorly at Pocono yet finished in the top five, then ran poorly at
Michigan and finished out of the top twenty. Nonetheless, Sterling still holds a
solid point lead, but if the #40 doesn’t get back the form of March soon, that
point lead will disappear.
PETTY ENTERPRISES –
#43 John Andretti
#44 Steve Grissom
#45 Kyle Petty
Unquestionably the comeback story of 2002, PE’s acquisition of Robin
Pemberton, Richard Buck, and Mike Ege Racing Engines has paid off in stronger
efforts, more consistent qualifying, and for Kyle Petty ever improving finishes.
The firing of Buckshot Jones, though, was a serious mistake – Jones, once
ridiculed as a lethal weapon, had started to show greater up-front maturity and
consistency before being axed at the reported behest of Georgia Pacific – and it
has shown in dismal qualifying efforts for the #44 since, despite a superb
effort and top ten by Steve Grissom at Richmond.
John Andretti, meanwhile, has shown competitive form most weekends but been
persistently bitten by the family curse – notably at Martinsville, Talladega,
Pocono (one of the few cars to pass on the outside of the treacherous turns all
day), and Michigan. A rumored return of the GN team, slated for Grissom, may
free up the #44, which needs a change to get back to the front, a path it was on
before the Jones release.
BAM RACING –
#49 Shawna Robinson
While not a strong team, Elizabeth Ann Morgenthau’s Dodge does have some
steam, and potential was shown when Ron Hornaday ran the car at Charlotte. In
any event, the car’s potential was nowhere close to being shown by the
insufferably awful driving of Shawna Robinson. Early this season she claimed to
the effect that "I deserve to be here." No you don’t, Shawna.
FORD TEAMS –
PENSKE RACING SOUTH –
#2 Rusty Wallace
#12 Ryan Newman
The Penske-to-Dodge rumor has persisted – the story that Andy Petree was
buying Penske Fords egged it on – but now appears untrue. Rusty Wallace is still
a consistent finisher – nine top tens equals a solid points position – but has
not shown really dominant muscle (he has yet to finish in the top five this
season), while rookie Ryan Newman won The Winston and roared forth at Michigan,
but has trailed Jimmie Johnson even though arguably Newman is the better driver.
It seems certain a win will come to Newman soon.
ROUSH PERFORMANCE RACING
#6 Mark Martin
#17 Matt Kenseth
#97 Kurt Busch
#99 Jeff Burton
While two wins in 2001 is something most teams would trade to get, it was sub par
for Roush Racing, and the comeback was clear to see by the time of Matt
Kenseth’s Texas win. Jack Roush’s bad plane crash at Talladega showed how tough
this organization and its creator really are – given the thoroughness of Roush’s
recovery one can hardly believe it was a life-threatening injury. With Roush
recovering his team soldiered on as if nothing was amiss and has five wins so
far with the boss back at the track.
The weak link, surprisingly, has been Jeff Burton’s #99, which has struggled
curiously often to date. Mark Martin’s comeback was iced at the World 600, and
Kurt Busch bagged his career first at Bristol, but remarks about needing a
caution at The Winston after spinning out Robby Gordon brought back memories of
his lethality to other competitors shown in melees during his 2000 season.
BRETT & DIANE BODINE RACING –
#11 Brett Bodine
You have to root for any owner-driver outfit, especially one with the odds
Brett Bodine’s team faces. Hooters sponsorship has been a savior, but a top ten
for this team will be the equivalent of a race win.
WOOD BROTHERS RACING –
#21 Elliott Sadler
A rather spectacular start – two seconds in the first five races – was slowed
to a lame-duck season with Elliott Sadler’s fight to get a release from the
team. Michigan’s crash didn’t do any favors for the combination. Being a Roush
Racing satrapy – the team’s equipment and even marketing are handled by the
Roush organization – helps the team race, but realistically also hamstrings them
in terms of not being in control of their destiny.
ROBERT YATES RACING –
#28 Ricky Rudd
#88 Dale Jarrett
After a start that bordered on abysmal, the Yates tandem has caught fire of
recent. Ricky Rudd has become the poster boy for victory robbery after
back-to-back heartbreak at Dover and Pocono, this after his public rebuke of
NASCAR’s excessively youth-oriented marketing. Dale Jarrett got Todd Parrott
back as crew chief and got his first win of the year at Pocono, then followed up
with second at Michigan.
PPI RACING
#32 Ricky Craven
All season the #32 has been a consistent runner and has three top fives as
hefty proof, but in the last few races Ricky Craven has shown a trend of
starting a race fast but finishing somewhat sluggishly. Cal Wells is looking to
reactivate his #96 team if a sponsor arrives, and is rumored as switching to
Pontiac for 2003 – a rather serious risk given GM’s shoddy treatment of Pontiac.
JASPER MOTORSPORTS
#77 Dave Blaney
A pair of top tens and some respectable consistency show that Blaney’s
decision to go to the perennially under funded ex-Ulrich team wasn’t such a
gamble after all. Doug Bawal’s team really came to life in 2001 with a
spectacular second at Chicagoland and that energy is still there.
JUNIE DONLAVEY RACING #90
There have been several drivers in the Donlavey #90 this year and with the
loss of their sponsor Donlavey has hinted he’ll pack it in for good this year.
If this is it, it’s an ignominious end to a beloved team owner’s career.
PONTIAC TEAMS –
MORTON-BOWERS-VALVOLINE RACING –
#10 Johnny Benson
#36 Ken Schrader
Benson managed a top ten at Daytona, but since then it has been a struggle.
Benson got hurt at Richmond and sat out a few weeks, then iced a solid sixth at
his home super speedway, Michigan. Meanwhile teammate Ken Schrader led handily
at Daytona but has not been able to replicate such muscle since, and has a best
finish of 15th so far.
A.J. FOYT ENTERPRISES
#14 Stacy Compton
A best finish of 18th is the story for this team. Foyt overextended himself
with his full-time foray into NASCAR and it persists in a serious weakening of
his IRL team and a lack of productivity for his NASCAR team.
JOE GIBBS RACING
#18 Bobby Labonte
#20 Tony Stewart
Bobby Labonte won his first career Winston Cup short track event at
Martinsville. Since then his effort has fallen far and fast. Pocono was the
worst run I’ve seen from the #18 in years thanks to a balky transmission, and it
didn’t get much better at Michigan.
Tony Stewart also struggled at MIS but has two wins and more top fives than
Bobby to show for his season. But the overall slide of JGR has led to persistent
rumors of a switch to Chevrolet next year, rumors consistently denied and which
right now don’t make much sense anyway.
While NASCAR now enters its first road course event of the year, the Indy
Racing League approaches its only short track outing, at Richmond in late June.
Seven of the series’ fifteen races have been run and have seen some exciting
finishes. Controversy has rode along as well.
The pattern of the season was set at Homestead – Penske Racing vs. the rest
of the IRL. Sam Hornish’s Panther Racing team has been the leader of the
everyone-else squadron, bagging two wins, including one of two rip-roarers so
far. Felipe Giaffone has Mo Nunn’s team fourth in points while Al Unser Jr. is
fifth after a spectacular effort at Texas.
The pattern on the track has been pretty consistent so far – Penske Racing
beats up on the field on one-milers and Indianapolis, while the others eat
Penske for lunch on the other super speedways. The Penske panzers had their way
in a Phoenix rout, at the Brickyard, and at Pikes Peak.
Elsewhere it has been different – on the other super speedways the Penskes
just hold on for finishes while others fight it out for the win. Sam Hornish
romped at Homestead, then won a thriller over Jacques Lazier at Fontana. At
Texas Penske briefly grabbed the lead after late splash-&-goes, but Al Jr.,
Airton Dare, and Jeff Ward had no trouble wiping out this challenge and then
going into the most stunning finish so far.
The wildcard on the racetrack has been the now-lame duck Infiniti effort of
Eddie Cheever’s team. Cheever won the pole at Fontana and appeared able to
snatch the win at the end, but blew up. His teammate, rookie Tomas Scheckter,
led 28 laps at Fontana but crashed, and then at Indy completely dominated the
500 but got in a back marker’s dirty air, lost it, and hit the wall. Then at
Texas Scheckter completely dominated again – he even broke the draft, always a
bad sign on a draft-oriented track like Texas – but killed the car on his final
stop.
The downfall of the year has been Buddy Lazier and Ron Hemelgarn, twelfth in
points and showing surprisingly little muscle. Last year they were almost
unstoppable; where that form went is a mystery.
So with eight races to go, the pattern may change the complexion of the
points, for the Penskes have not shown the brute force to fight on the super speedways,
and the season now beckons with stops at Richmond, Kansas, Nashville, Michigan,
Kentucky, Gateway, Chicagoland, and the finale at Texas.
If the form chart holds out, Penske will beat up on everyone at Richmond, may
eke out a win at Gateway, but will struggle at Kansas, Michigan, Kentucky,
Chicagoland, and Texas; Nashville may be something of a wildcard given its
concrete surface. Hornish has been the strongest Penske foe and will need to
keep finishing high and romp to victory lane at least twice more to overhaul Gil
de Ferran and Helio Castroneves.
If the black cloud of unreliability parts for a change, watch out for Tomas
Scheckter and Eddie Cheever on the supers – they may not break the draft like
they did at Texas, but they still have enough power to win if their engines hold
together.
Felipe Giaffone, Al Jr., and Airton Dare (third at Texas) are also wildcards
for race wins in the second half.