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The Answer Man on SPEEDtv.com - the Online Motorsports Authority ยป More Photos
Note: By popular demand, The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. I will be answering questions during every race week and look forward to hearing from you as the season goes on.
If you have a question, please e-mail it to – Tom Jensen
Will NASCAR's purchase of Grand-Am have any significant impact on either of the two series? It seems that they're already owned by the same people. — Kyle, Chapel Hill, N.C.
That’s an excellent question, Kyle. Honestly, yes, I think there will be some significant changes, mostly to the Grand Am Series. Although we’ll have to wait to see what happens, I’ve got to believe that NASCAR/Grand Am is going to work closely with the automakers to generate some road-racing opportunities for cars like the Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger and the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro. No one’s said anything to me about this yet, but I’d be shocked if that synergy wasn’t applied at some point in the future.
I feel Patrick Carpentier should go to Michael Waltrip Racing. He’s a fan natural, excellent road racing mentor and probably in Michael’s price range. Of course, sponsorship is an issue, but Michael and Patrick together in commercials could be a knock out. — Ron Crumpler, Panama City Beach, Fla.
Ron: You make some excellent points. Patrick Carpentier has been a real breath of fresh air in NASCAR, someone who would make any team owner or sponsor proud to have him as a driver. I would love to see him get a ride somewhere else and I hope he catches on with another team. He’s not only a talented driver, he’s a great guy, too.
Yes, we know why there are two races in California. In fact, there should probably be none. Does NASCAR really think that the races there can be sold as part of their package, what with half the seats obviously empty for the Nationwide race and not much better for the Sunday race? Don't you just think that any Californians wavering about spending the time and money attending next season’s races were sold on the single-car parades both of these races were this past weekend? — Ron Pohl
Ron: To my mind, the Labor Day weekend at California was the worst racing weekend of the NASCAR season to date, without doubt. It’s unfortunate, but that just isn’t a track where there’s much action up front. On top of that, Southern California is never going to be a huge market for NASCAR because there are far too many other entertainment and recreational options available for people in the area. It could be a good market, but I doubt if it ever will be a great market.
Tom: What is the deal with NASCAR drivers that run in more than one series? If the driver is a Sprint Cup driver why is he also allowed to run in Nationwide and the Trucks? It seems that a Cup driver is in the major league of NASCAR racing. You really don't see baseball players playing in the majors and the minors.
Mike, that’s a good point. NASCAR stance has always been that drivers are independent contractors and therefore they can’t prohibit them from racing in other series. But there’s no question that the Nationwide Series has issues that need to be addressed.
I have a question about the power being made by the Toyotas as of late. I have heard that NASCAR is getting them to take out 15 horsepower from the Toyotas. My question is this, if NASCAR is supposed to be the premier racing series in the world (for oval tracks), why would they be trying to take out horespower from some guys who have figured things out? If it meets the rules it meets the rules. Tell the other guys to pick it up. Isn't that what racing has traditionally been about, getting the most out of your machine? Thanks! — Aaron
Thanks for the question Aaron. Dating back at least to the mid-1960s and probably before that, NASCAR historically has always intervened when one manufacturer had a clear advantage over the others. Bill France Sr. did it in the 1960s when he banned the Chrysler Hemi engine and the Ford SOHC 427 cammer. In the early 1970s, NASCAR legislated the winged cars out of competitiveness. Later, they adjusted spoiler heights, body templates and all manner of other tweaks to keep the playing field level. What NASCAR is doing with Toyota engines in the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series is nothing new. NASCAR manages competition closely, unlike other sports.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or Speed Channel
Tom Jensen is the Senior NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED,” and has appeared on television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the President of the National Motorsports Press Association. Jensen is the 1997 National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year and has won numerous national and state awards for news reporting, columns and feature writing. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to
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