Face Off: Rob and Don put on the gloves! By-Rob Faiella and Don Hamm Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! Welcome to the first of many Face-Offs between our ITPB staff. This week Rob and Don met and faced off on issues such as the cars, drivers who don't belong on the track, and this year's new Driver/Team combos. This is how it went: Rob: Topic 1: With the aero rules going back to the 2000 season, will the 500 be boring as hell? Don: With the spoiler and rear deck lid changes to the Fords I think we'll have to wait until the Daytona 500 is twenty laps old. Rob: True, but in 2000, the Fords dominated, taking the top 5 finishing spots. Chevy was given a .25" spoiler break to bring them even after that. Now Ford has been given the same .25". Don: Correct. However NA$CAR made them raise the trunk lid height to get the spoiler back up in the air. The Fords sandbagged so much during open practice that we won't know much until a full field is on the track. Rob: Dale Earnhardt was furious after the 2000 Daytona 500, claiming it was the worst race ever and he didn't know how the fans could have possibly enjoyed. I actually fell asleep in the middle of it. However, spread out and boring will allow safety. Only 2 cars were listed as "out" due to an accident in the 2000 race. Don: If it turns out to be a boring run away again I think ISC might see their ticket sales fall of at the remaining three SuperSpeedway races. I think a whole different approach has to be taken to make racing both safe and exciting. My current article "More About The Cars" relates to this quite well. Rob: That brings us nicely in to Topic 2: Your article... I agree with most of what you said, however, do you really think it is possible for the Big 3 to make a mid-season model to help their teams? Could it happen in a timely manner? How about, just allowing the teams to opt out of their contracts with a manufacturer if they feel they are at a disadvantage and switch makes? Could that work? Don: They used to do it. Remember when they brought out the special MonteCarlo with the sloped rear window to compete with the T-Birds. Switching manufacturers to gain an advantage would be a total disaster. If the Taurus is the hot item and all the teams switched to them we would be left with nothing but a forty three car field of a glorified IROC. Rob: IROC... yes... Firebirds for everyone! I could paint mine up and enter the race! Think my 6 could keep up? I would be the true "Stock Car Racer". Yes I remember the special Monte Carlo. My mom put her best plants in the back window and used it as a greenhouse. Great tomatos in the garden that year! Don: We could also end up with a manufacturer boycott of NA$CAR if any given make became dominant as happened many moons ago with Petty and the winged Dodges. NA$CAR outlawed them and Petty went drag racing since Dodge and Plymouth opted out of the series. Look how many years it took to get them back in a Taurus carrying an Intrepid nameplate. Rob: True, as much as I am furious with Nascar and ISC at the moment, (more on that in a later article), I do feel that they are doing what they need to, in order to keep the races somewhat exciting. It will never be perfect, unless they go with common templates with the only difference being the headlight and tail light decals... oh wait.... nevermind! Don: They made Daytona and Talladega exciting. Unfortunately, it got a little too exciting with the roof aero package. So they revert to what may turn out to be an unexciting package and we don't want a repeat of that either. There has to be a happy medium somewhere and common templates would make it a totally engine oriented race. Again, common templates get us to an IROC concept . Rob: Do you think that Ford and Dodge should be allowed to race "2-door" versions of their cars, when the public can't buy them? Chevy had to put out a limited number of those "Greenhouse" Monte Carlos in order to make it race legal. Don: Now you're getting on my last good nerve. Back when they legalized the T-Bird it didn't meet the same specs as the Buick, Olds, Pontiacs or Chevys. Instead or telling Ford to build a car that met the current specs they made the GM boys change their cars and Bill Elliott romped while GM played catch up. Simply put, no they shouldn't. Rob: It's fun watching you get all fired up!! ok, TOPIC 3: Which drivers need to start considering retirement? And which young drivers need to realize that they chose the wrong hobby? Don: Oh boy. Before I answer, I should ask you to send me a bullet proof vest and body armour. Sadly, I think Terry Labone and Mark Martin have lost their fire and should retire. Bill Elliott is another along with Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd aren't getting any younger and I hate to see drivers go out as King Richard and Crown Prince DW did. The young drivers mostly need good equipment. Rob: I have really noticed a downfall in Mark Martin since his dad died. I really think his priorities have shifted to being a great dad for Matt. This by far is not a bad thing, it is commendable, however, if it is the case, then step aside. Terry definitely seems to be out of gas. Gordon and Nadeau are running strong and even Johnson has shown strength. Bill just won! Bill needs to hang on for a bit longer, although, rumors have him retiring this year. Now, I know you like him, but, does Buckshot really have talent?? Don: There are several young drivers who have gotten into somewhat bad situations. It isn't so much that I like Buckshot as it is that I have no reason to dislike him. I know Elliott just won but I don't see the fire in his eyes. DW almost won while subbing for Steve Park but look what happened in the K-Mart Ford. Nothing. Bad equipment or bad attitude? I think Bill should go out a winner. I believe any driver making it to the series has talent and needs only good equipment and/or a team to showcase his talent. Rob: I think Bill has a few left in him. I don't dislike Buckshot, he just hasn't proven a thing to me. There is a nice article on him at our link partner SpeedwayMedia.com. Guys like Compton, Buckshot, and even Skinner, have really shown me nothing. Skinner had the best equipment out there! Don: Skinner was terriffic in the Truck Series but the only race he won with Childress was the one in Japan. This, to my feeble mind, is a make or break year for Skinner and probably Compton. It seems like I started something by writing about Buckshot without knocking him. I also think Elliott Sadler could be in a make or break season. Again, a lot has to do with the equipment and, in some cases, racing luck. Rob: Final Topic: (unless you have anything else we should discuss) Which new Driver/Team combination will work right out of the box, and which are disasters waiting to happen? Don: Without a doubt, Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson are ones to watch. Dependent on the chemistry, Robby Gordon is going to blaze new trails or be a total disaster. I personally like him and hope he deeply appreciates what is probably his last best shot to succeed in Cup racing. I am leaving the jury out on Casey Atwood. Jimmy Spencer could be a pleasant surprise or total disaster. I am hearing he got religion. Now I hope he makes it to a dentist. Rob: He made it to the HairClub. I think Mayfield is going to set the series ablaze. I also think Nemechek made a terrible decision going to the 26. I expect AJ and the 14 to have at least 4 drivers this year and I truly believe that Atwood will run great. Ray is behind him 100% and he will do everything to help him succeed. Don: That's why the jury is out on Atwood. Ray is a great guy and it's up to Casey to prove his merit. I agree on Nemecheck but totally disagree about Mayfield. AJ made a mistake by not putting Little Al in the fourteen car. Rob: Little Al was always impressive in IROC and he could have made the transition easily. Rob: Final Comments: I look for a boring 500, but a competitive season after that. I think we will see at least 2 races this year with less than 43 cars and a lot more of that in the Busch series. As always, let's hope safety is improved upon and that everyone makes it safely to the banquet. Don: I just hope we can go to Daytona and have a good and safe race and don't have to re visit the tragic last lap of last years race. I think Dale would tell us, "Get over it and LET'S RACE". It's time to put aside the mourning and retain the pleasant memories of a great racer. Rob: I am glad you put it that way. Let's never put aside the memories..... Don: Amen. Say, "Good night Rob." Rob: Good night Rob Don: See, I told you Rob was a couple of bricks short of a full load. Thanks and keep reading! you can E-mail both Don and Rob HERE! Check out ALL our sections and features here!! There is plenty to keep you busy on our main page! (Editors Note:The views and opinions of our writers are just that, theirs. If you have comments, write to them. We take no responsibility for their articles... Do you blame us?) Article archives Return to the Main Page