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Sprint Cup
CUP: SPEED Crew Heads Down Road To Charlotte
The NASCAR on SPEED experts preview the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway...
Regan Smith was in the spotlight at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)
The past week was a busy one in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, which takes center stage Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the fifth race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Below, SPEED on-air personalities break down the week’s news and Saturday’s race:
Q: How crucial is this weekend’s race at Charlotte to the future of Regan Smith and AJ Allmendinger’s careers?
“There is plenty of pressure on both drivers. Regan is under the gun because he will be in top-notch equipment. AJ, however, could have a number of distractions with his situation. I don’t think anyone would have imagined an opportunity like this for him just three months after his suspension. But the sky is the limit for both drivers in their opportunities.”
--Adam Alexander, host of SPEED Center
“It’s a perfect fit for Regan because he’d already been talking to JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports about competing for the Nationwide Series crown with JR Motorsports next year. This gives Hendrick two races to work with him and understand what he needs in a car before signing him. Regan benefits from the limelight and the opportunity to drive Dale Jr.’s car, but it also gives Hendrick the opportunity to learn what Regan is all about behind the wheel.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“In terms of performance, NASCAR is such a ‘What have you done for me lately?’ sport. In years past, a driver had a long learning curve. But they must maximize any opportunity they’re given today, which equates to pressure. I’d compare it to when Brad Keselowski got a shot in the Truck Series a few years ago subbing for Ted Musgrave. That performance prompted Dale Jr. to give Keselowski a ride in the Nationwide Series.”
--Krista Voda, host of NCWTS Setup and Trackside
“Regan is in a much better position than AJ. He is in better equipment and there isn’t a lot of pressure on him. There already was a good chance he will end up in a fulltime Nationwide Series ride at JR Motorsports next year. Since AJ is coming back from suspension, he probably will feel a lot more pressure. Filling in in the No. 88 car carries its own pressure, but AJ will feel more like this is a make-or-break stretch for him.”
--Tom Jensen, SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief
Q: The Cup Series races at four mile-and-a-half tracks in the final six races, so can we accurately use the opening four races of the Chase as a gauge to predict a team’s performance in the closing six races?
“There is no question the four mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule will play a big role in deciding the championship. In four Chase races, we’ve learned that Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin all have come to play. Two wild cards remain this year -- the short track at Martinsville and the reconfiguration at Kansas.”
--Adam Alexander, host of SPEED Center
“The mile-and-a-half tracks level the playing field a bit. Because there are so many intermediate tracks, if a team isn’t strong on them, they likely won’t make the Chase. But if they do, they probably won’t perform well.”
--Krista Voda, host of NCWTS Setup and Trackside
Q: What are your thoughts on eliminating the top-35 rule and forcing teams to qualify on time in 2013?
“I like the changes being discussed for next season. The utilization of the top-35 rule served its purpose but it's time for a change. It will be interesting to see what exact changes are made and what impact they will have on qualifying in 2013.”
--Adam Alexander, host of SPEED Center
“It is the golden ticket for these teams to be able to present to sponsors that their team will make the Daytona 500. They must have that. It’s tough to keep sponsorship and keep people employed, so I don’t like the thought of doing away with the top-35 rule.”
--Matt Clark, SPEED analyst
“There are two sides to the coin. The owners want the top-35 rule because it almost gives them a franchise-like opportunity in that they’re guaranteed to make the field. If you’re in the top 35 and locked into the race headed into the Daytona 500, you can sell sponsorship for that race, which is a huge financial help the rest of the season. But at the same time, the rule has caused a lot of stir with teams vowing to get into the top 35 but who won’t necessarily compete the entire race. NASCAR had to do something and eliminating the top-35 rule, if they do that, is what fans want.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“Years ago when we had second-day qualifying on Saturdays, there was a big debate about the fairness of the draws. Mike Helton told me that no matter what system they employ, if 48 cars show up, five always will go home. The five who go home will always come up with a way they would have made the race if things were done differently. That’s where we are with this rule. I think the new system will be fair, but I think today’s is okay, too. I don’t expect it to change the competitive balance much at all.”
--Tom Jensen, SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief
Q: How important will it be for Kurt Busch and Furniture Row to get off to a good start in the six remaining races of 2012?
“The six races remaining in 2012 serve as a huge opportunity for Kurt and the 78 team to lay a foundation for 2013. The mental side of the sport has obviously created challenges over the years, so a strong start could go a long way toward their success.”
--Adam Alexander, host of SPEED Center
“The number-one thing they will gain in 2012 is familiarity. Todd Berrier will learn what Kurt likes and doesn’t like in a car. They will learn to speak the unique language each driver/crew chief combination has, defining what is loose and tight within the specific communication they have regarding the car. However, I don’t think it is crucial Kurt gets off to a fast start – it’s just important that they build gradually for next year.”
--Tom Jensen, SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief
Below, SPEED on-air personalities break down the week’s news and Saturday’s race:
Q: How crucial is this weekend’s race at Charlotte to the future of Regan Smith and AJ Allmendinger’s careers?
“There is plenty of pressure on both drivers. Regan is under the gun because he will be in top-notch equipment. AJ, however, could have a number of distractions with his situation. I don’t think anyone would have imagined an opportunity like this for him just three months after his suspension. But the sky is the limit for both drivers in their opportunities.”
--Adam Alexander, host of SPEED Center
“It’s a perfect fit for Regan because he’d already been talking to JR Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports about competing for the Nationwide Series crown with JR Motorsports next year. This gives Hendrick two races to work with him and understand what he needs in a car before signing him. Regan benefits from the limelight and the opportunity to drive Dale Jr.’s car, but it also gives Hendrick the opportunity to learn what Regan is all about behind the wheel.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“In terms of performance, NASCAR is such a ‘What have you done for me lately?’ sport. In years past, a driver had a long learning curve. But they must maximize any opportunity they’re given today, which equates to pressure. I’d compare it to when Brad Keselowski got a shot in the Truck Series a few years ago subbing for Ted Musgrave. That performance prompted Dale Jr. to give Keselowski a ride in the Nationwide Series.”
--Krista Voda, host of NCWTS Setup and Trackside
“Regan is in a much better position than AJ. He is in better equipment and there isn’t a lot of pressure on him. There already was a good chance he will end up in a fulltime Nationwide Series ride at JR Motorsports next year. Since AJ is coming back from suspension, he probably will feel a lot more pressure. Filling in in the No. 88 car carries its own pressure, but AJ will feel more like this is a make-or-break stretch for him.”
--Tom Jensen, SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief
Q: The Cup Series races at four mile-and-a-half tracks in the final six races, so can we accurately use the opening four races of the Chase as a gauge to predict a team’s performance in the closing six races?
“There is no question the four mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule will play a big role in deciding the championship. In four Chase races, we’ve learned that Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin all have come to play. Two wild cards remain this year -- the short track at Martinsville and the reconfiguration at Kansas.”
--Adam Alexander, host of SPEED Center
“The mile-and-a-half tracks level the playing field a bit. Because there are so many intermediate tracks, if a team isn’t strong on them, they likely won’t make the Chase. But if they do, they probably won’t perform well.”
--Krista Voda, host of NCWTS Setup and Trackside
Q: What are your thoughts on eliminating the top-35 rule and forcing teams to qualify on time in 2013?
“I like the changes being discussed for next season. The utilization of the top-35 rule served its purpose but it's time for a change. It will be interesting to see what exact changes are made and what impact they will have on qualifying in 2013.”
--Adam Alexander, host of SPEED Center
“It is the golden ticket for these teams to be able to present to sponsors that their team will make the Daytona 500. They must have that. It’s tough to keep sponsorship and keep people employed, so I don’t like the thought of doing away with the top-35 rule.”
--Matt Clark, SPEED analyst
“There are two sides to the coin. The owners want the top-35 rule because it almost gives them a franchise-like opportunity in that they’re guaranteed to make the field. If you’re in the top 35 and locked into the race headed into the Daytona 500, you can sell sponsorship for that race, which is a huge financial help the rest of the season. But at the same time, the rule has caused a lot of stir with teams vowing to get into the top 35 but who won’t necessarily compete the entire race. NASCAR had to do something and eliminating the top-35 rule, if they do that, is what fans want.”
--Bob Dillner, SPEED reporter
“Years ago when we had second-day qualifying on Saturdays, there was a big debate about the fairness of the draws. Mike Helton told me that no matter what system they employ, if 48 cars show up, five always will go home. The five who go home will always come up with a way they would have made the race if things were done differently. That’s where we are with this rule. I think the new system will be fair, but I think today’s is okay, too. I don’t expect it to change the competitive balance much at all.”
--Tom Jensen, SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief
Q: How important will it be for Kurt Busch and Furniture Row to get off to a good start in the six remaining races of 2012?
“The six races remaining in 2012 serve as a huge opportunity for Kurt and the 78 team to lay a foundation for 2013. The mental side of the sport has obviously created challenges over the years, so a strong start could go a long way toward their success.”
--Adam Alexander, host of SPEED Center
“The number-one thing they will gain in 2012 is familiarity. Todd Berrier will learn what Kurt likes and doesn’t like in a car. They will learn to speak the unique language each driver/crew chief combination has, defining what is loose and tight within the specific communication they have regarding the car. However, I don’t think it is crucial Kurt gets off to a fast start – it’s just important that they build gradually for next year.”
--Tom Jensen, SPEED.com Editor-in-Chief
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