Talladega Last Chance

[jlp4345]

This weekend is Talladega and the way I see it, it could be the last real shot this year at a really good finish or possible win. After last weekend, I don't even know what to say. After a few weeks of what I'd call okay runs, a 17th, 16th, and 15th, they have a terrible showing at Kansas. They were off the worst I've seen all year on speed in practice and qualifying. They didn't make but a whopping 37 laps in the race so it was hard to tell there, but he started 35th and weren't going anywhere before hand. The team on the in-car blamed their wreck totally on their teammate. They said the 44 was blocking for almost last place and just stopped in front of him in the corner. They seemed pretty frustrated all the way around on the radio, understandably. Aric's comments on the radio on the pace laps before the race went green were kind of disheartening too, which he was saying the truth, but saying how they have what they have, and they know their stuff isn't good enough, so they were just gonna do what they could do. But maybe that's a good thing, maybe it'll make them do whatever possible to change it. I just for the life of me cannot understand how the only 2 Fords that can do anything are the 2 Penske cars, and why the other Ford teams cannot figure that out. I mean Stewart is switching to Ford next year, so they are going thru a whole manufacturer change over the off season and I guarantee that they will come out of the box next year leaps and bounds ahead, right there with Penske, right from the start. And if that does happen, something is wrong somewhere, seems to me.

Jason

[pb1945]

I think Aric may ( maybe ) have enough car to stay in touch with the main pack. But when the top 15 or 20 get serious he's going to go back. If he can't stay with the main pack when they spread out a little he'll get lapped by mid race. Hard to say that but that's just the way it is.

Sure wish they would prove me wrong.

Dan

[pb1945]

Shazam big second place finish for Scott to his credit he hugged the 88 like a Kuala Bear to a Eucalyptus tree the whole race very, very, smart actually. Impressive also was the 43 was able to hold onto the main pack for a respectable finish.
To me anyway it is more clear now what could be a big factor in what is really holding the RPM cars back. Talladega known more for being a HORSEPOWER track to me anyway shows where a lot of RPM's problem may lie, even with the second place Scott finish.

Aric had to work hard to stay in touch with the main pack the last half of the race. Scott held that bottom line like glue he knew full well had he tried something he was going to the rear. Great to see them both finish in the same camera view, don't happen often.

Still time for a couple more good finishes.

Dan