David Reutimann began the year in the Michael Waltrip Racing’s #00 Toyota. In the first five races he had earned his team a comfortable 27th place in the points standings easily guaranteeing him a spot in next couple races. But with his move over to the #44 car vacated by Dale Jarrett, Reutimann and co were hoping to take those well earned points with them. Not so, said Nascar which put the kibosh on the brillant idea. And now, instead of sitting in 27th place, Reutimann will instead be hanging out in 34th only 16 points in front of Nascar’s version of the Mendoza line and giving rookie Michael McDowell the 27th place standing when he steps into the #00 car this weekend at Martinsville.Got it? Not really, well here's the rub. Nascar had allowed Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish, Jr. who are both racing for Penske South this season, to swap points in an effort to guarantee both cars a starting spot in the first five races. Hornish had no points in the #77 car, Busch did but he also had a Championship in his back pocket that would allow him to use the Champion's provisional if he was unable to qualify on time. Thus the switch. But that, as Nascar said, was only because it was an off-season move.
The governing body continued to come under fire for that decision especially when Petty Enterprises hinted at swapping points between Kyle Petty and Bobby Labonte (Labonte also holding that Championship card). The team later decided against it, but the precedent had been set in years past and now it was up to Nascar to create yet another lame rule out of their ass.
The question remains, why didn’t MWR plan for this and keep Reutimann in the #00 car? Was sponsorship the driving force? Because I don’t think they’d be happy if Reutimann is forced to miss a race because of this blunder. And besides, DEI has been able to fluidly move between veteran driver Mark Martin and newbie Aric Almirola in the #8 car without a hitch. So why was Reutimann moving from one car to the other?
Plus, Nascar really needs to watch itself. Yes, ratings are up, but they can't keep playing this game and expect to be taken seriously. They will see a huge push from the newly unified open wheel racing this weekend when the IRL comes to play in Homestead. And the IRL boasts better racing, equal stars and a real championship. So it’s time for Nascar to start acting like one of the big boys and put all if its cards on the table.
(Photo: Getty Images for Nascar; source)
Roush Fenway Notes: When they aren't accusing Toyota of stealing their stuff, they are negotiations to keep Greg Biffle in their stable cars. Sorry, Jamie but it's looking like you're going to be the odd man out when Roush Fenway cuts itself down to four teams. Well don't worry, maybe they can get you a ride over at Yates Racing.
GEM: Not only is Elliott Sadler's back injury effecting his ability to drive on Sunday, but it could hurt his NCAA plans. He was hoping to catch his beloved UNC play on Saturday and if they advance (which for maybe the first time ever, I'm ok with since it will save my bracket) he was hoping to fly between San Antonio where the Final Four will be held and Dallas where the Cup drivers will be competing at Texas Motorspeedway. Apparently not only did he injure his back doing his normal workout as reported earlier in the morning in our Nascar section, but he may have aggravated it playing golf. Like from bad to worse for GEM, huh?
Tony Update: Yesterday we reported that Tony got a haircut, finally. Well we're still waiting on the photographic evidence. We'll post it when it makes the photo wire so check back and tell us what you think of his new do or maybe don't we'll have to see.
UPDATE: We finally got a picture of the shorter hair. Better, but a little too styled in the front. We would have rathered less volume.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Also does it seem like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Kasey Kahne also went to the barber on their off weekend?
It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate
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