Column: Teams don’t miss a beat

Published 2:41 am Tuesday, July 10, 2007

By Staff
Three drivers were without their crew chiefs for the race at New Hampshire last week.
Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson all had interim crew chiefs because of suspensions due to COT violations. Those drivers finished second, fourth, and fifth respectively. That fact makes you understand just how much of a team sport big-time racing has become.
On the payroll of all the major teams you will see engineers, tire specialists, engine specialists, chassis specialists, and the list goes on. It sure is unlike the old days when a few guys worked on the cars whenever they got off work from their real jobs.
Earnhardt's crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., became the center of a grassy knoll controversy over the past week. According to various reports, Eury Jr. was present at the New Hampshire race in a motor home parked on a hill overlooking the track. The combination of television coverage, cell phones, and race scanners gave Eury all the information that he needed to pretty much call the race without sitting on the pit-box. This got the attention of NASCAR head honcho Brian France and he wasn't amused.
In fact, starting immediately, all suspended crew chiefs are banned from the track property during the race weekends. Fortunately for Earnhardt, Eury's suspension ended at New Hampshire.
Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon weren't so lucky, their guys are only one race into a six-week suspension. But in reality, I don't really think their absence will deter the 24 and 48 from posting strong finishes.
The official announcement will come this weekend at Daytona when that top series will be renamed the Sprint Cup in 2008. The name change was not a very big secret and had been predicted since the Sprint and Nextel merger was approved many months ago.
Kyle Busch this week narrowed the field of teams that he will drive for next season. The Chevy teams of Richard Childress, DEI, and Joe Gibbs are still on the list, along with the Dodge teams of Ray Evernham and Chip Ganassi.
I put my money on one of the Chevy teams to secure the services of young Mr. Busch next season. In fact, RCR is my pick to add Kyle next season. Richard Childress has ample experience dealing with somewhat hot-headed, out of control drivers, remember Dale Earnhardt and Kevin Harvick.
Speaking of Ray Evernham, whispers were heard this week that Kasey Kahne is not a happy camper and is asking for an out in his contract. Kahne is growing weary of the soft results and thinks the grass might be greener. Don't think that will happen, but keep your eye on that situation.