Nascar News - Starting Lineup for Texas Samsung 500

[Burgundy Burner]

Samsung 500 - Starting Lineup

Pos Car Driver Team Time Speed
1 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet 190.907 28.286
2 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford 189.487 28.498
3 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota 189.069 28.561
4 12 Ryan Newman alltel/Samsung Dodge 189.043 28.565
5 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet 188.772 28.606
6 44 David Reutimann UPS Toyota 188.732 28.612
7 6 David Ragan AAA Insurance Ford 188.534 28.642
8 17 Matt Kenseth DeWalt Ford 188.475 28.651
9 84 Mike Skinner Red Bull Toyota 188.390 28.664
10 9 Kasey Kahne Budweiser Dodge 188.245 28.686
11 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Texaco/Havoline Dodge 188.160 28.699
12 1 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet 188.140 28.702
13 66 Scott Riggs State Water Heaters Chevrolet 188.009 28.722
14 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota 187.990 28.725
15 7 Robby Gordon Jim Beam Dodge 187.931 28.734
16 16 Greg Biffle Dish Network Ford 187.865 28.744
17 77 Sam Hornish Jr. # Mobil 1 Dodge 187.741 28.763
18 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 187.611 28.783
19 15 Paul Menard Menards/Quaker State Chevrolet 187.598 28.785
20 55 Michael Waltrip NAPA Toyota 187.591 28.786
21 29 Kevin Harvick Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet 187.493 28.801
22 5 Casey Mears Cheez-It/CARQUEST Chevrolet 187.474 28.804
23 2 Kurt Busch Miller Lite Dodge 187.311 28.829
24 20 Tony Stewart Home Depot Toyota 187.195 28.847
25 07 Clint Bowyer Jack Daniel's Chevrolet 187.156 28.853
26 19 Elliott Sadler Best Buy Dodge 187.007 28.876
27 10 Patrick Carpentier # Valvoline Dodge 186.981 28.880
28 21 Bill Elliott Motorcraft Ford 186.974 28.881
29 22 Dave Blaney Caterpillar Toyota 186.948 28.885
30 43 Bobby Labonte Cheerios Racing/Sam's Club Dodge 186.935 28.887
31 8 Mark Martin U.S. Army Chevrolet 186.793 28.909
32 26 Jamie McMurray Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Ford 186.645 28.932
33 96 JJ Yeley DLP HDTV Toyota 186.220 28.998
34 01 Regan Smith # Dale Earnhardt, Inc./Principal Chevrolet 186.047 29.025
35 31 Jeff Burton Prilosec OTC Chevrolet 185.995 29.033
36 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota 185.752 29.071
37 34 John Andretti Chevrolet 185.669 29.084
38 28 Travis Kvapil Yates Racing Ford 185.631 29.090
39 70 Jeremy Mayfield Haas Automation Chevrolet 185.350 29.134
40 00 Michael McDowell # Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota Owner Points
41 38 David Gilliland Yates Racing Ford Owner Points
42 41 Reed Sorenson Target Dodge Owner Points
43 78 Joe Nemechek Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 185.192 29.159

Did Not Qualify: #40 Dario Franchitti; #45 Chad McCumbee; #08 Burney Lamar

[DWinzit]

88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/AMP Energy ChevroletThis just looks so wrong but hey, he's got the pole.

30 43 Bobby Labonte Cheerios Racing/Sam's Club Dodge 186.935 28.887Does Bobby stand a chance running for Petty or is he just done?

[Burgundy Burner]

Sounds like a lot of trouble is brewing at Petty Enterprises...

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=3329704

Petty, team VP Loomis differ on who made call for McCumbee
By David Newton
ESPN.com

Updated: April 4, 2008, 7:45 PM ET

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Kyle Petty stood in the back of his hauler at Daytona International Speedway in February and questioned why members of the media didn't call B.S. to the answers many Sprint Cup drivers give during interviews.

He didn't expect it to be turned on him.

But on Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, as reporters attempted to unravel exactly who decided to replace him with rookie Chad McCumbee this weekend, it was.

Petty made it clear the decision wasn't his and that he never wanted to come out of the car. Robbie Loomis, the vice president of competition at Petty Enterprises, said it was.

So the B.S. flag was thrown.

"I'll let you throw the B.S. flag on this a little bit," said Petty, who is scheduled to be back in the car next week at Phoenix. "I'm not going to tell you the truth, and here's the reason. It will hurt too many different people in too many different ways from too many different angles.

"I'm just not going to tell you the truth. Take what I say and write it. I'm just not going to tell you where everything's at. I just can't."

He won't because to tell the truth would be to throw members of his team, perhaps even his famous father, seven-time champion Richard Petty, under the bus.

In a way, he did. Kyle said he wasn't the problem with the team that is 40th in points and coming off a missed race last weekend at Martinsville Speedway. He said he wasn't THE reason the team hasn't finished better than 22nd in points since 1998.

But he did mention that he wanted to drive a competitive car, which suggests the one he's in isn't. McCumbee wasn't any better, failing to qualify for Sunday's race, one of only three cars to miss the 43-car field.

"I'm 47," Kyle said. "I really don't give a rat's rear end about a lot of things anymore. [But] there's nothing I want to do more than drive a race car. Nothing in this freaking world that I want to do more than drive a race car. I want to drive a good race car. I want to drive a competitive race car.

"We're not in a good competitive situation right now. We've got to make our stuff better. I think they're trying really, really hard to make it better. If I'm the problem then I'm the one that needs to get out of the way so it can get better. If somebody else is the problem then they've got to be big enough to step out of the way."

That's the way Loomis saw this decision come down. He said Kyle and Richard came to his office at Mooresville, N.C., on Monday and said, "Hey, I know you're trying to strengthen this team up. Let's try to leave as much as that intact as you can right now and let's put Chad in there and give him a chance."

"Quite frankly, Kyle is the one that came up with the idea." he added.

Loomis went on to say he "got a numb" feeling when the recommendation was made.

Kyle initially took offense at the suggestion that stepping out of the car was his idea.

"I don't care what he said," Petty said of Loomis. "I said it wasn't. Why would I get out of a car?"

He later admitted he had some culpability in the matter, but never to the point sitting out was his idea. "I can't honestly say it was my idea," Kyle said. "Was it Robbie Loomis' idea? I can't honestly say it was their idea, either. We sat in an office. This was one of the options we had. We had multiple options. There's no need to bring those up because those just hurt other people."

The elder Petty said it simply was a meeting of the minds, a company decision.

"I'm not getting in on a discussion where so-and-so said something and so-and-so said something else," he said. "It is what it is. It was a situation where we looked like we needed to make some changes here, and so this is one of the changes we made."

The man known as "King" went on to say that he doesn't believe the problem with the No. 45 can be blamed solely on his son. As Kyle reminded several times, mechanical issues sidelined him in four of the first five races.

"No, it's a combination deal," Richard said. "The driver can only do so much. The crew can only do so much. Circumstances beyond our control does the rest of it. Right now we don't have any of the three ingredients working to a plus. So that's what we're trying to get going here."

That may be the real story and a reason this is a much bigger deal than Kyle wants to admit it is. Nobody knows exactly what the problem is at NASCAR's most storied franchise and all parties can't agree on what it will take to fix it.

They're trying, negotiating with a financial partner in New York that will sure up that end of the business. They're also looking for a primary sponsor for the famed No. 43 after General Mills announced on Monday it was leaving for Richard Childress Racing next season.

They're also trying to re-sign 2000 Cup champion Bobby Labonte, who has been speculated as the top candidate for the fourth car at RCR.

"I think Petty [Enterprises] is not in an impossible situation but a hard situation," Kyle said. "You're trying to stay apart of the sport and catch up to the sport. We're talking to investors. We're losing sponsors. We're trying to find sponsors. We're trying to get drivers. We're trying to keep drivers.

"We've got so many balls in the air. Most teams can juggle one, but we're having to juggle five or six. I don't think it's impossible, but we've got to have the right direction and we've got to stay in the right direction and everybody has got to be pulling in the right direction."

So everybody isn't pulling in the right direction?

"We're just not at that place right yet," Kyle continued. "We've not got the direction we need."

Getting everybody on the same page as to why Kyle was taken out of the 45 might be a good place to start. It doesn't sound good when the driver and management seem to be at odds even though both say they aren't.

"We have issues that we've got to discuss internally," Kyle said. "But we're not in any way shape or form cutting each other's throats and backstabbing and going off in different directions and you're doing this and I'm doing this and screw you and I'll take this and I'll take that and I'm moving back to Level Cross and you stay in Charlotte.

"It's not any of that. It's all about making the 45 team better."

But there still seems to be conflict. Petty was a big part of the decision-making process at Petty Enterprises before Loomis arrived two and a half years ago from Hendrick Motorsports. He has been at odds over several recent decisions, including the one to move the organization from Level Cross, N.C., to Mooresville to be closer to the talent base.

"I think there was a time when we needed to move to Mooresville, or we needed to move to the Charlotte area," Kyle said. "That time had passed. So I was not a hundred percent moving to Mooresville.

"I felt we had some issues that we should fix and could fix whether we were in Level Cross or Mooresville. We have not fixed those issues yet. We're not running any better in Mooresville than we were in Level Cross."

But Petty made it clear that he still wants to drive even though he was scheduled to miss seven races -- six to be a television analyst for TNT and one to attend his daughter's wedding -- beginning in June.

And he made it clear that he still cares about being successful.

"I never want to come out of the car," he said. "Why would I ever want to come out of the car? I'm arrogant enough to believe I'm not the problem. At the same time I don't want to be the one to stand in the way if I am the problem.

"But I'm confident enough in my ability in what I do that if I'm forced to step out and let somebody else do it then I'll step out. And you give it a shot and I'll come back in."

That is no B.S.

David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.

[Teller]

Here we go, Mike. Your guy. My guy. Head up from the front row. May the best team win. :cheers:

Sucks that I have to work Sunday, but I should be able to keep up pretty well. We'll have the TV tuned in, the Sirius radio race-call going, and of course the race thread.

And hell, I'll be getting paid to follow the action. Professional NASCAR fan...I like the sound of that.

Oh, and thank the Good Lord McDowell's OK. Much respect to the safety innovations that have probably saved AT LEAST two lives already this year.

[SkinsBry]

Does Bobby stand a chance running for Petty or is he just done?

He's not done, but he is committed to Petty while he's on the team. General Mills will be sponsoring the 33 car for RCR next year. Bobby may go over there, we'll see. Petty needs money or to merge to find his cars in the winner's circle.

[Burgundy Burner]

Bobby Labonte will be going to RCR next year according to this report.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;_ylt=Ai9fkcBqC3PUyRMDr.pkEHnov7YF?slug=bm-labonte040108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Labonte, General Mills to RCR
By Bob Margolis, Yahoo! Sports
Apr 1, 12:36 pm EDT

Richard Childress Racing will field a fourth car in 2009 with sponsorship from General Mills, and Yahoo! Sports has learned that Bobby Labonte, the 2000 Cup champion, will be the driver.

Labonte, who has spent the past two-plus seasons driving for Petty Enterprises, will drive the No. 33 car.

Yahoo! Sports originally reported in February this exact story – that Labonte would be the driver of a fourth RCR car, with sponsorship from General Mills. At that time, Richard Childress acknowledged that he would field a fourth car, but denied Labonte would be the driver.

“No, no, no,” Childress told Fox Sports.

But sources close to the negotiations continue to confirm to Yahoo! Sports that a deal between Childress and Labonte is done.

Rumors of Labonte’s move to Childress began at the start of the 2008 season when Labonte signed to drive the No. 21 Nationwide car for Childress. It is expected the majority of the No. 21 team, headed by crew chief Shane Wilson, will move up to work on the new Sprint Car team.

Petty Enterprises had hoped signing a past champion like Labonte would help return the organization to respectability. It hasn’t worked out that way.

Since joining Petty Enterprises, Labonte has scored just 11 top 10s and no wins in 78 races.

A move to Childress would be a shot in the arm for Labonte’s career. One only has to look at how the move to RCR has helped the career of current points leader Jeff Burton, who since joining RCR has won at least one race in each of the past three seasons after going winless the previous four driving for Jack Roush.

[SkinsBry]

A move to Childress would be a shot in the arm for Labonte’s career. One only has to look at how the move to RCR has helped the career of current points leader Jeff Burton, who since joining RCR has won at least one race in each of the past three seasons after going winless the previous four driving for Jack Roush.

Win-win for them both. A past champion who can still drive and Childress will put him in good equipment.

[Burgundy Burner]

From Jayski...

Aflac Sponsoring Edwards at Texas & Phoenix: Aflac, the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States, will be the primary sponsor of Carl Edwards’ #99 Roush Fenway Racing team this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Additionally, Aflac will also be the primary sponsor next weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. Edwards will drive the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion in a total of eight races throughout the 2008 season.(Roush Fenway Racing PR (http://www.roushracing.com/story/aflac-sponsor-no-99-texas-phoenix))(4-4-2008)

[Teller]

That Aflac car is ugly, but it'll look a lot better doused in champagne and confetti. :)

[Burgundy Burner]

More from Jayski...

Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears Airs Saturday on ESPN2: Race fans who missed original airings of the television series Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears, chronicling the move of Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series, will have a chance to watch again. ESPN2 airs a one-hour episode Saturday, April 5, at 1:30pm/et, leading to live coverage of the Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The series provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the personal, corporate and competitive ramifications involved with the five-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver award recipient leaving Dale Earnhardt, Inc., the team founded by his late father. Dale Jr. – Shifting Gears is produced by Earnhardt Jr.’s Hammerhead Entertainment, a division of JR Motorsports, in cooperation with Hendrick Motorsports and is presented by the National Guard. The final two episodes air on ESPN in prime time the week of the July 27 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, ESPN’s first live Sprint Cup event of the season.(ESPN)(4-4-2008)

[Burgundy Burner]

Kyle Busch will pass both of your guys by lap two. Joe Gibbs Racing. :cool:

[Teller]

Kyle Busch will pass both of your guys by lap two. Joe Gibbs Racing. :cool:

Dude. We're back at a mile-and-a-halfer; a.k.a. the Houses that Jack Owns. :)

[Burgundy Burner]

Kyle won the last 1.5 miler. :laugh:

Should be a good one though.

[BigMike619]

Can someone please tell HH that we arent friends any more until after the race?

[Teller]

Kyle won the last 1.5 miler. :laugh:

Should be a good one though.

I'm sure the transmission problem that allowed said victory has been corrected. :)

[Burgundy Burner]

Can someone please tell HH that we arent friends any more until after the race?

You're late to the party and no one cares. Bring any food to share?

[Teller]

You're late to the party and no one cares.

I don't know why, but that was funny as hell. :laugh:

[BigMike619]

You're late to the party and no one cares. Bring any food to share?

Yeah...

Knuckle sandwiches and plenty of them.

Which one of you bastards is first? :mad:



:laugh:

[Burgundy Burner]

Speaking of being mad and knuckle sammiches, Kyle Petty sure is mad. Sounds like he is telling his father to butt out. With all due respect, that is what needs to happen. Ditto for the Wood Bros. These two teams could be gone in a few years if nothng changes.

[BigMike619]

Speaking of being mad and knuckle sammiches, Kyle Petty sure is mad. Sounds like he is telling his father to butt out. With all due respect, that is what needs to happen. Ditto for the Wood Bros. These two teams could be gone in a few years if nothng changes.

Im gonna stay away from that fight as much as possible.

I can tell my dad to butt out but if YOU tell him or try to get in the middle its gonna be a problem.

But Richard is too old and not really involved enough to try and make those calls any more.:2cents:

and you still suck. :silly:

[Burgundy Burner]

and you still suck. :silly:

Trying out for the Cincinnati Bengals I see.

One other note. Franchitti misses the race. Those open wheel types are struggling.

[BigMike619]

Trying out for the Cincinnati Bengals I see.

One other note. Franchitti misses the race. Those open wheel types are struggling.

Smoke adjusted just fine. :2cents:

I cant stand Montoya's arrogant ass.

I do like Franchetti's attitude from what Ive seen so far. he seems humble and doesnt hold back that he is overwhelmed.

[Burgundy Burner]

JPM is proving he can get it done though. Good at road courses - something that Roush drivers can't do at all.


People in the Stadium still freaking over the monthly charge thing. Fun to watch.

And we signed Jerome Mathis, which prompts me to say...Who?

[BigMike619]

JPM is proving he can get it done though. Good at road courses - something that Roush drivers can't do at all.


People in the Stadium still freaking over the monthly charge thing. Fun to watch.

And we signed Jerome Mathis, which prompts me to say...Who?

the people in the stadium are dumb..:laugh:


JPM doesnt really get a damn thing done but Nascar still pumps him like he's the next great thing. He has one victory (and if you make a JR joke I will kill you) in his career and sure he is good on road courses but so is Boris Said. Why doesnt he have a full time ride?

[Burgundy Burner]

the people in the stadium are dumb..:laugh:


JPM doesnt really get a damn thing done but Nascar still pumps him like he's the next great thing. He has one victory (and if you make a JR joke I will kill you) in his career and sure he is good on road courses but so is Boris Said. Why doesnt he have a full time ride?

You know where he could really help out? The Wood Bros. Boris would struggle some with them, but after a period of adjustment, that could be a good situation for both sides.

[BigMike619]

You know where he could really help out? The Wood Bros. Boris would struggle some with them, but after a period of adjustment, that could be a good situation for both sides.

He would go good with Roush too. Every time he lost Jack could just get all mad and blame Toyota...:laugh:

[Burgundy Burner]

Just wait until Honda arrives. I've heard that they are targeting 2011 or 2012 to get in. Get the jet fuel ready.

[BigMike619]

Just wait until Honda arrives. I've heard that they are targeting 2011 or 2012 to get in. Get the jet fuel ready.

I might leave...

:doh:

[SC_RedskinsFan]

I am so stoked that JR won the pole. Him getting away from that ***** is the best thing he ever did.

[BigMike619]

I am so stoked that JR won the pole. Him getting away from that ***** is the best thing he ever did.


:cheers:

[SC_RedskinsFan]

It would be nice if he could break his drought where he won his first race.

[BigMike619]

It would be nice if he could break his drought where he won his first race.

I agree but hes running damn well this week and if he keeps it up he will be on top without winning a single race.

only one race out of the top 10 and that wasnt even his own fault.

he has passed my expectations so much its not even funny.

[SC_RedskinsFan]

I agree but hes running damn well this week and if he keeps it up he will be on top without winning a single race.

only one race out of the top 10 and that wasnt even his own fault.

he has passed my expectations so much its not even funny.

I agree i would rather see him finish in the top 10 every race then win 1 and have 8 dnf's. I guess there is no doubt that he is getting good equipment. :cheers:

[SC_RedskinsFan]

That is what JR said after his pole. You think he is fired up?:D



Earnhardt attributed much of his success to the No. 88 Chevrolet built for him by Hendrick Motorsports, the organization he joined this year after eight full seasons in Cup racing with family-founded Dale Earnhardt Inc.
"That's a good lap, obviously," said Earnhardt, who claimed his first pole of the season and the eighth of his career. "They just build fast cars, man. It's a lot of fun. I'm surprised we were able to do as good as we did when we were racing against 'em."

[DWinzit]

He's not done, but he is committed to Petty while he's on the team. General Mills will be sponsoring the 33 car for RCR next year. Bobby may go over there, we'll see. Petty needs money or to merge to find his cars in the winner's circle.

Bobby Labonte will be going to RCR next year according to this report.Thanks for the info guys. I hadn't heard this and would love to see Bobby backed by Childress!

[BigMike619]

That is what JR said after his pole. You think he is fired up?:D



Earnhardt attributed much of his success to the No. 88 Chevrolet built for him by Hendrick Motorsports, the organization he joined this year after eight full seasons in Cup racing with family-founded Dale Earnhardt Inc.
"That's a good lap, obviously," said Earnhardt, who claimed his first pole of the season and the eighth of his career. "They just build fast cars, man. It's a lot of fun. I'm surprised we were able to do as good as we did when we were racing against 'em."

Oh man, and we all know that once JR is in the groove he has unlimited potential. :cheers:

[Teller]

I agree but hes running damn well this week and if he keeps it up he will be on top without winning a single race.

Be glad he's not in a Ford. If he was, some **** like that would prompt a rule change. :laugh:

[BigMike619]

Be glad he's not in a Ford. If he was, some **** like that would prompt a rule change. :laugh:

And now the thread is complete. :silly:

[ComebackKing]

Anyone see that huge wreck for the 00 car yesterday? I haven't seen a wreck that hard in a loooong time. He went dead into the wall at 180MPH. Biggest crash for the new COT car for sure, it passes my safety test! Glad McDowell's ok!

[BigMike619]

Anyone see that huge wreck for the 00 car yesterday? I haven't seen a wreck that hard in a loooong time. He went dead into the wall at 180MPH. Biggest crash for the new COT car for sure, it passes my safety test! Glad McDowell's ok!

He ****ing waved!!! Like I said before, I am starting to be sold on the COT.

[Teller]

Anyone see that huge wreck for the 00 car yesterday? I haven't seen a wreck that hard in a loooong time. He went dead into the wall at 180MPH. Biggest crash for the new COT car for sure, it passes my safety test! Glad McDowell's ok!

Absolutely.

I think we can say for sure we've now seen the COT save it's first life (with an assist from the SAFER barrier.) My God, what a violent hit; and damn-near perfectly head-on.

I don't think the kid made a mistake either. You could see the slightest hint of a puff of smoke off the right rear, right before the car turned. It's unfortunate for him, but man, thank the Lord he's OK. Simply amazing to see him walk away unassisted.

For what it's worth, I think Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart would've suffered some serious injuries this year too, if not for the new car. Tony, when he cut that right front, and Jeff when he hit that inside retaining wall.

I'm officially 100% sold on the COT. It's infinitely safer, and it's made for better racing too. What else can you ask for?

[BigMike619]

Oh you definitely see a puff of smoke. Looks to me like it could be a cut tire.

[Teller]

Oh you definitely see a puff of smoke. Looks to me like it could be a cut tire.

Mmm...You may be right, but it didn't look like enough to be a cut tire to me. Besides, if he had cut the right rear, wouldn't the back end come around instead? Maybe it was the camera angle. Who knows.

Didn't he say something about thinking it was oil dry or something? I thought I read that somewhere, but maybe not. It's been a long couple of days.

[Burgundy Burner]

Just before the 00 went out, Gillaland dropped a bunch of oil on the track. Lots of speedy-dry was put down in turns 1 and 2.