Fast Laps Through the Twisty Bits

by Charlie Turner

I'm Charlie Turner co-host of the syndicated, mostly NASCAR radio show On Pit Row. Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. Oh yeah, Steve is an idiot.

5 Responses to “Fast Laps Through the Twisty Bits”

1. 4ever3 on June 17th, 2008 12:51 am

   1. Should Junior have been penalized for repeatedly passing the pace car?

   No, but if he continued to do it after he was told not to then he should have be nailed.

   2. Did NASCAR’s closed door meeting with drivers - chastising them for excessive negative comments - contradict its earlier “say what’s on your mind” directive.

   Yes, on the surface it appears that way, but with a giant $225 million dollar lawsuit I can see whay NASCAR did what they did. I don’t think NASCAR will care if another driver sounds off on another driver, but when it comes to NASCAR and its policies look out those will be off-limits for sure.

   I’m also sure that NASCAR is tired of seeing some of their drivers look at as crybabies too. A bunch of overpaid crybabies at that. So what if the CoT is hard to turn? You are paid literally millions of dollars to that job, so suck it up and do it. Let me put it this way, if Jack Rouscch were to call me tomorrow and wanted me to drive the 99 machine at a greatly reduced salary I would in a heartbeat.

   In other words shut up and drive, - there will always be another Kyle Busch, or Joey Logano to take the next ride when it becomes available.

   3. Is Joey Logano the real deal or just another over-hyped wannabe?
   Both. Yes he is the real deal, and yes he is another over-hyped wannabe at the moment thanks to the media and the JGR media machine.

   4. Would you give up one road course race to see the Cup Series race on a one mile dirt track?

   No, but I would give up a Claifornia or New Hampshire date to see that.

2. Marc on June 17th, 2008 2:31 pm

   1. No, he took his warning like a good little boy and played nice after getting his pee-pee whacked.

   2. No. NASCAR is no different than other big businesses. Bad mouth the boss or his/her policies and you get told to STFU. Bob hit on the key part as to why now. With the newswires filled with lawsuit news, news of the type that brings “non-NASCAR types” to read them (’cause it fits their “hate”) it doesn’t heed a bunch of crying drivers with wet panties.

   3. No.

   4. No, I’d add a third road course and place it within the Chase. Adding any Cup level dirt race flies in the face of any cost cutting measures in place now. No dates of dirt tracks.

3. Luke on June 17th, 2008 11:53 pm

   1) Nope. Nor should have anyone else in that position.

   2) Marc, STFU. I think it was aimed at “whining”, not criticism. Although Tony didn’t seem to see it that way.

   3) This, again? Kid’s got talent. Lots do. Kids got equipment that can showcase it, too. He’ll be around for a while.

   4) I’d add one into the Chase as well, but also give up a Cali or Pocono date to the dirt. On top of that, I’d put it in the Chase, too.

4. Steve Wronkowicz on June 18th, 2008 5:33 am

   1– I’m glad that you all can live with NASCAR’s selective enforcement policy. It looks as if all NASCAR rules have a new two warning rule attached. Speeding on pit road? Third time your penalized. Too low at inspection? Third time your penalized. Rough driving? Third time your penalized. Sheesh–it’s a rediculous concept.

   2– Again NASCAR is talking out of both sides of its mouth. First its, “we’re not going to penalize drivers for speaking their minds.” Then it’s ” speak your minds–just be positive when you do.” Tony wins the sarcasm award as usual and Junior has bought in–hook, line and sinker.

   3– Logano has talent, and a lot of it. But he also has some of the best equipment out there. He has had good stuff in every level he has raced. We’ll see if he takes that talent and brings fans with him or against him.

   4– I would NOT give up a road course for anything. But i would gladly give up a Cali date or a Pocono date to get one. What better way to get back to their roots than to do some dirt tracking?

5. Charlie on June 21st, 2008 10:59 pm

   1. Sure. He broke a NASCAR rule , right? They should have sent him to the end of the longest line. Afterall, we haven’t had a goog “soccer riot” in Michigan in a long time. Seriously, what would the NASCAR officials done to Robby Gordon had he been in Junior’s position.

   2. I don’t think so. It sounds to me like two different situations. This was about the atmosphere of negativity surrounding the New Car, mostly. I don’t blame NASCAR for wanting their product talked about more positively by the participants.

   3. Real deal. Hyped to the max.

   4. I would rather see more paved short tracks and another road course. Iowa Speedway for example. Leave the dirt races to ARCA. Steve writes about returning drivers to their roots by featuring a mile dirt race. Dirt is not the roots of todays NASCAR. Sure some drivers come from a dirt track background. Some come from off-road and motorcycles too.

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