Photo credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Sorry about the lengthy silence last week. My little site was off-line due to some server issues. However, I’m back (actually, the site was back up Saturday morning after having been down since Wednesday afternoon). You lucky yous.

Anyway, first topic to cover, albeit belatedly — not my fault, okay? — is the move by Greg Zipadelli from JGR to SHR. There are multiple angles to examine.

First is how this move relates to Joey Logano. It’s no secret that earlier this year Home Depot was desperate to replace Logano with Carl Edwards when Flipper was a potential free agent starting in 2012. The number of Home Depot ads not starring Logano, because there were no ads at all, being run on television during races this year was another telling sign of the big orange box’s disenchantment with their overwhelmingly major source of air time during the year being whenever Logano painted the SAFER barrier orange – the hard way. Apparently, during the ten year stretch when Tony Stewart flew their colors they had gotten used to the idea of sponsoring a driver who actually won once in a while.

However, it is still a tad too early to dismiss Logano as a quality driver. There is the possibility that the mix of him and Zipadelli simply didn’t work. It’s not that uncommon to have a driver and crew chief, both of whom are capable, be unable to work together for whatever reason. The most notable example of this came when Larry McReynolds, who had enjoyed tremendous success with Davey Allison, and Dale Earnhardt couldn’t get it together. It has been argued that Allison was a superior driver to Earnhardt; the Intimidator himself stated that had Allison’s life not been tragically cut short, he (Earnhardt) wouldn’t have won seven championships. Still, it wasn’t like Earnhardt lacked talent. Neither did McReynolds. Yet, save for the 1999 Daytona 500, the two never clicked well enough for Earnhardt to find victory lane.

I’m not comparing Logano to Earnhardt or Allison. He reminds me more of a character in another sport, namely Alex Smith whose status as the number one pick in the draft became a running joke under a series of head coaches and offensive coordinators, yet has proved to be a serviceable quarterback under the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh. Perhaps Logano will flouish underneath his new crew chief Jason Ratcliff, or will at the least prove serviceable.

That said, even as Alex Smith will always live underneath the shadow of Aaron Rodgers, who was passed over by the 49ers in the draft in favor of Smith, Logano’s career will always be judged by being measured against the driver he replaced. He’s got a lot of catching up to do. Also, his career is being measured against those being currently enjoyed by his teammates. Kyle Busch, winning races and contending for championships. Denny Hamlin, winning races and contending for championships. Logano, not so much. If he doesn’t step it up, and soon, Logano is in grave danger of becoming this generation’s Casey Atwood.

Turning from Logano to Zipadelli, while being the team competition director is hardly a 9 to 5 spent skipping along Easy Street the most interesting development is his agreeing to be the crew chief for Danica Patrick’s Cup races in 2012. Zipadelli is paying appropriate lip service to the “oh, I’m just filling in” meme, but it’s quite obvious from his comments that he relishes the opportunity.

Given that it is Stewart’s name on the checks, he wouldn’t have hired Patrick if he didn’t believe she had potential above selling a lot of merchandise. Paring her with a known, proven commodity like Zipadelli reinforces the notion neither he nor Patrick are playing around. And, although it remains unsaid, there’s no doubt a certain amount of neener neener neenering being hoped for should Patrick and Zipadelli prove to be a succesful combo.

I don’t expect Patrick to win any Cup races next year. What I am looking for is her finishing the season with quality seat time. One or more lead lap finishes would be a strong success, a top ten even more so. Not betting on it, but not betting against it earlier. The ultimate would be for Patrick, pushed by Stewart and/or Ryan Newman, to win a restrictor plate race in 2012. Imagine if you will the media meltdown if she won the Daytona 500. Stranger things have happened in racing.

Stay tuned. The Danica Patrick in NASCAR story is getting more interesting.

P.S. Sorry, couldn’t resist:

What said individuals are actually thinking is almost invariably more difficult to learn than who put the bomp in the bomp bah bomp bah bomp. In NASCAR, there are only so many jobs to go around, and given the current bloodletting… er, cost-cutting measures being taken by high profile teams such as Roush and RCR, the last thing anyone wants to do is publicly or even privately disparage a potential paycheck should one’s career path suddenly go boomerang. Yesterday’s employer is today’s ex-employer is tomorrow’s no longer ex-employer. Bridge burning is self-immolation. You don’t go there.

That all said, people are people and therefore respond differently to similar circumstances. In the case of knowing your future lies elsewhere than your present location, much depends on your relationship with the individuals and organization soon to be in your rear view mirror. Sometimes you mail it in, sometimes you go all out.

A different motivation is when you don’t know who will be signing your next paycheck, but you still have to finish your term with someone who’s just finished dropping off some empty boxes at your work desk. On one hand, unless it’s a mercy termination you’re not going to be overwhelmed with any intense desire to make the boss look good other than the satisfaction of leaving in a blaze of glory by making it clear how much you’ll be missed. However, the need to burnish the résumé while there’s still time is quite an incentive for peak performance. In motivation land, two out of three ain’t bad. Get in there and give it all you’ve got.

This comes to mind when considering the curious case of Darian Grubb. Informed by Tony Stewart prior to this year’s Chase that good (making the Chase for the third straight year) wasn’t good enough, as Stewart had not been a factor in the championship the previous two years, Grubb proceeded to turn in a performance for the ages, guiding Stewart to five Chase wins culminating in Stewart winning the championship via the most dramatic fashion possible. Of course Stewart’s you-can’t-do-that-oh-wait-he-just-did daredevil driving was the main element behind his triumph. But without the horsie, ya ain’t gonna be winning no races, and Grubb fine-tuned the synthetic oil office supply can to where Stewart could put on a show.

The awards ceremony this Friday will be interesting. Doubtless Stewart and Grubb will be effluent with glowing praise for each other. After all, they did win a championship together. This duly noted, one hopes that Stewart will leave enough space at the winner’s table during the banquet to accommodate the stack of job applications Grubb is presently filling out.

Only in NASCAR, folks.

October 7

Going To California

October 8

Fontana Friday Morning

A Relaxed Danica Patrick? Believe It

A Softer Side Of Carl Edwards

October 9

Kyle Busch Wins Race, Danica Patrick Real Winner At Auto Club

October 10

Tony Stewart Wins Smokin’ Hot Pepsi MAX 400 At Auto Club Speedway

Anyway, quite the weekend to start off the season, what say? First there was the truck race… which became second due to the weather. Instead, first there was the Nationwide race, the only thing missing from which by ESPN’s perspective was Brett Farve as the grand marshal. All Danica, all the time.

It’s more than a little amusing to watch assorted members of the MSM pontificate about the overkill of Danica coverage even as they incessantly feed the machine. If said people were serious about such matters as promoting equal opportunity for female drivers, they’d be standing on street corners beating the drum 24/7 for Chrissy Wallace to get full-time sponsorship and a quality ride. Nothing against Rick Ware Racing; it’s terrific they’re giving Chrissy Wallace an opportunity. But we’re not talking championship caliber team come Nationwide time here.

Back to Chrissy, who last Saturday suffered a very premature exit from the race courtesy of John Menard Jr. over-indulging his son’s passion for auto racing by refusing to end his gifting of same to the child at the slot car level. It’s easy, all too easy, to hitch a ride on whichever bandwagon is currently barreling through pop culture town. Looking to be one of the Kool Kidz while doing so? Portray yourself as a vulture sneering at the soon to be carcass when its fifteen minute life span expires. In fact, you’re far more a leech than a vulture, clinging to every minute of the ride while it’s alive so as to gain maximum exposure basking in the glow of a short-lived candle belonging to someone else. Nevertheless, there is always a plethora of passengers on this carriage pulled by the dog and pony show. A far rarer animal is the one striving to shine the spotlight on those one believes truly deserve attention. Why? In the final breakdown, it’ll all about the ratings baby. Journalistic integrity? Meh. It’s implied by the byline, isn’t it? Uh… isn’t it?

That all said, Danica Patrick’s first turn at Nationwide warrants some mention from the racing aspect. She did all right before getting caught up in a wreck not of her own doing, driving cautiously and neither forcing the issue nor getting in anyone’s way. As to the race itself… what, Tony Stewart won the February Daytona Nationwide race? Wow. That never happens…

Back to Mrs. Hospenthal for a moment. A far more interesting test in her fledgling NASCAR career will be this coming weekend at Auto Club. How will she adapt to a flatter track where picking the correct line and getting the car right is of maximum importance? We’ll see come this Saturday. Regrettably, we won’t see Chrissy Wallace; she’s not scheduled for this race. Instead we’ll have the legendary Kenny Hendrick attempting to make the show. Thrillsville.

And for the record…

Chrissy Wallace is cute.

Next up was the truck race, which swiftly gave the impression most all participants had spent the twenty-four hour delay forgetting how to drive. Among those who had their evening plans unwillingly modified by others perfecting the art of brain fade was Jennifer Jo Cobb, who after a few years on the occasional guest appearance list is devoting 2010 to becoming a regular member of the NASCAR family. As a driver, not merely photo op.

Thankfully, Jennifer Jo Cobb can drive.

And then there was the Daytona 500.

To say the breaks in action courtesy of the track breaking were unfortunate is putting it as mildly as possible. Yes, drivers love worn-out racing surfaces. However, fans have the right to see a race in its entirety sans the broadcast crew interviewing everyone up to Digger in order to kill time. Certain delays are unavoidable, such as weather. That duly noted, this is the second straight year NASCAR has been unable to present its premiere and premier race either in its entirety or without interest and momentum-killing pauses. Not good.

Fortunately, the racing itself was sublime. No Big One, a slew of lead changes, and a last lap featuring Jamie McMurray hanging on to the lead for dear life as Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally showed the fire he’s been missing for the past year plus by blasting his way around and sometimes seemingly through fellow competitors en route to a second place finish he immediately labeled unsatisfactory as it wasn’t first. Good thing yesterday was a holiday for many, as the Junior Nation needed time to recuperate.

On to California.

Stewart has since Day One exuded the quality known as “it.”  Consider his résumé: dirt track stud.  Indy car stud.  Stock car stud the moment he moved from the Busch series to Winston Cup.  Dirt car team owner stud.  And based on that he was going to fall flat on his face as a Sprint Cup team owner?  Yeahright.

No one, as in no one, has ever doubted Stewart’s passion.  That isn’t stored in his drivers suit to be trotted out only on race weekends.  He brings it into everything he does.  At times it has boiled over with unfortunate results.  This time, not a problem.  It’s all going in the right direction.

Stewart was presented with a golden opportunity to not only own a team but also enjoy technical support from Hendrick.  He grabbed it and hasn’t stopped running with it yet.  Stewart brought over from Hendrick the best crew chief who at the time wasn’t working as a crew chief in the presence of Darian Grubb.  He brought in the other people he wanted to populate his organization and has treated them in the same manner he wants to be treated.  Namely, with respect and encouragement.  Employees respond to that with their best effort.  The results speak for themselves.

It’s not a surprise Smoke is atop the points standings.  It wouldn’t be that much of a surprise if he was there after Homestead.  The only surprise would be if people were still surprised by then.

Stewart’s got “it.”  And he’s not giving “it” up anytime soon.