Michael Waltrip
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,130
Likes: 3
From: Massachusetts
Does it really matter where he goes? He is a sponsors gold mine. He has little success in his career when you campare him to alot of the "big name" drivers. What this guy has is a personality for the camera. Does he ever give a interview whithout going up one side of the fire suit and down the other? He never leaves anyone out. Also, you cannot go very long without seeing his mug in a commercial. More than anyone else who drives. Gordon comes close but not that close. This sport has become all about money. The racing is second. So I bet the sponsor has a much input of who hires him as much as the team owner.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 323
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Wish he'd get off the 'Inside Nextal Cup Racing' show. He's becoming a wise guy. Not funny anymore.
When Dave Despain takes over from Bestwick, and Harwick possibly replaces Johnny Benson, that would be a good time for Mickey to be replaced too.
When Dave Despain takes over from Bestwick, and Harwick possibly replaces Johnny Benson, that would be a good time for Mickey to be replaced too.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 1
From: Edgerton, WI
I could see Toyota going after Waltrip. He is a colorfull personality and he has enough talent to compete in the truck series (look at Bobby Hamilton, he was a nobody in the Cup series but he has been dominant in the truck series).
I agree about the plates. I say remove the plates and let the driver with the most talent prevail. Something needs to be done because eventually someone is going to end up getting killed. The biggest thing I think they need to do is to do away with the 10 race shootout (the champion was supposed to be the guy who did the best all year long on a variety of tracks, no one who is good in the last 10 races of the year) and they need to add more road courses. The road courses are what seperates the champions from the wanna-bes.
Octane
I agree about the plates. I say remove the plates and let the driver with the most talent prevail. Something needs to be done because eventually someone is going to end up getting killed. The biggest thing I think they need to do is to do away with the 10 race shootout (the champion was supposed to be the guy who did the best all year long on a variety of tracks, no one who is good in the last 10 races of the year) and they need to add more road courses. The road courses are what seperates the champions from the wanna-bes.
Octane
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 352
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It's ashame that great tracks like Rockingham and N. Wilkesboro are gone, and we still have the plate tracks. . . The NA$CAR money machine says this is a market sport, but I don't buy it. . . Bristol is in the middle of nowhere and far from a major market, yet sits a 160,000+ and is sold out 'til who knows when.
The new Fusion looks cool
The new Fusion looks cool
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,460
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Originally Posted by Octane
Jamie McMurray is signed to drive the #6 car in '07, so I supposed its possible that they MIGHT have Waltrip drive it for a 1-year deal, but I doubt it.
Supposedly, Roush is trying to talk Mark Martin into coming back for 1 more year, but I dont see Mark doing that.
Waltrip has the best equipment money can buy and he hasnt won lately, so I dont see any of the top teams hiring him.
I would see Roush bringing Jon Wood up from the truck series before I could see him hiring Waltrip.
Octane
Supposedly, Roush is trying to talk Mark Martin into coming back for 1 more year, but I dont see Mark doing that.
Waltrip has the best equipment money can buy and he hasnt won lately, so I dont see any of the top teams hiring him.
I would see Roush bringing Jon Wood up from the truck series before I could see him hiring Waltrip.
Octane
I also agree that I don't think Mark will be returning.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,290
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From: Edgerton, WI
Originally Posted by markgilmore1322
It's ashame that great tracks like Rockingham and N. Wilkesboro are gone, and we still have the plate tracks. . . The NA$CAR money machine says this is a market sport, but I don't buy it. . . Bristol is in the middle of nowhere and far from a major market, yet sits a 160,000+ and is sold out 'til who knows when.
It really saddens me that they are going more and more to these 1 1/2 mile D-shaped ovals and that they have gone to the 10-race shootout point system. The champion was alway supposed to be the guy who did the best over the whole course of the year on a wide range of tracks, not the guy who does the best during the last 10 races of the year on mostly D-shaped, 1 1/2 mile ovals.
They only did it because a few years ago Kenseth won the championship despite not winning a single race all year (and because Newman complained that he should have won the championship because he won the most races).
As I said, I think they need to add more tracks that are different. Id like to see them have races at Laguna Seca (can you imagine those guys trying to negotiate the infamous "corkscrew") and at Road America. Its funny how these guys can handle turning left all day while doin 200 mph but you ask them to shift, brake, turn left and turn right and they cant keep the car on the road. So much for them being the world's best drivers, I guess.
Octane
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 800
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From: Ontario, canada
The thing about Waltrip is that he has such a strong relationship with his sponsors, that its quite possible that they could move to a new team with him. He clearly earns his keep with them. Could be the start of a new direction where the drivers and sponsors move from team to team together as a package. Could we see the number XXX NAPA Ford/Dodge/chevy with Waltrip back behind the wheel next year? If not NAPA, i'm sure you'll still see Aarons, Dominos, and Best Western behind him.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 352
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Originally Posted by Octane
As I said, I think they need to add more tracks that are different. Id like to see them have races at Laguna Seca (can you imagine those guys trying to negotiate the infamous "corkscrew") and at Road America. Its funny how these guys can handle turning left all day while doin 200 mph but you ask them to shift, brake, turn left and turn right and they cant keep the car on the road. So much for them being the world's best drivers, I guess.
Octane
Octane
I was so suprised when he finished 5th or 6th this year at Sonoma
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Government Teat-sucker
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia Beach
Originally Posted by Octane
As I said, I think they need to add more tracks that are different. Id like to see them have races at Laguna Seca (can you imagine those guys trying to negotiate the infamous "corkscrew") and at Road America. Its funny how these guys can handle turning left all day while doin 200 mph but you ask them to shift, brake, turn left and turn right and they cant keep the car on the road. So much for them being the world's best drivers, I guess.
Octane
Octane
As far as the cup goes, I just don't understand the point system. Too many variables, obviously, and not enough points for wins. How is it that Greg Biffle has won 5 races this year (how many for Johnson? I don't know, but I bet it's 2 or less), and can't get the number 1 spot? Do I have to pray for Johnson to wreck early so Biffle can get the top spot? Funny thing is, it didn't seem to take Stewart long to jump right into third! Now he's only 8 points behind Biffle. Anyway, does anybody know the actual breakdown of the points? Apparently a win is only worth about 3... lol
Gone but not forgotten.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by stu37d
Road courses are boring. Not enough speed to be interesting. Hardly any passing. Get in front and make no mistakes, you're likely to win, IMO.
As far as the cup goes, I just don't understand the point system. Too many variables, obviously, and not enough points for wins. How is it that Greg Biffle has won 5 races this year (how many for Johnson? I don't know, but I bet it's 2 or less), and can't get the number 1 spot? Do I have to pray for Johnson to wreck early so Biffle can get the top spot? Funny thing is, it didn't seem to take Stewart long to jump right into third! Now he's only 8 points behind Biffle. Anyway, does anybody know the actual breakdown of the points? Apparently a win is only worth about 3... lol
2nd place: 170 points 3rd place: 165 points 4th: 160 points 5th: 155 points 6th: 150 points 7th: 146 points, and so on.
The 43rd-place finisher gets 34 points. Drivers who lead a lap earn five bonus points. The driver who leads the most laps in a single event earns 10 bonus points.
Now you know.
Dono
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,290
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From: Edgerton, WI
Originally Posted by stu37d
Road courses are boring. Not enough speed to be interesting. Hardly any passing. Get in front and make no mistakes, you're likely to win, IMO.
Octane
Government Teat-sucker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,748
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach
Infineon was the boring one I was referring to. I actually fell asleep for a while during that race. I agree that there are passes made, but I just don't find it as exciting as drafting and passing. I dunno, I'll try to watch the next road course with a little more knowledge.
Dono, you mean that's it? There are no other points than those? I thought it was some supercomputer doing algorithmic calulations at the end of the race... thanks for clearing it up.
Stu
Dono, you mean that's it? There are no other points than those? I thought it was some supercomputer doing algorithmic calulations at the end of the race... thanks for clearing it up.
Stu