Uncovering Tom Bowles' "unnamed source"

On Rev'Jim's RantsnRaves, I have never claimed to be reporting news. Anything you read on here is based on my opinion, and that is as likely to come from my heart as it is from my brain. Still, when I mention something in the news, I am careful to attribute it to the source, complete with names. I am not a professional journalist, and I do not get paid for writing, so I hope and assume that people read my work for the purpose of entertainment, and that they find my opinion interesting.

A professional journalist, such as Tom Bowles for Sports Illustrated.com, can apparently present a supposition without naming sources. Last week Bowles published an article asserting that Tony Stewart would be leaving Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of this year to join Haas/CNC as a co-owner-driver, quoting "unnamed sources" so he wouldn't have to present proof. Even after more information came out that Stewart will not be leaving JGR at the end of this year, and that he was looking at several options before he decided what he was going to do after 2009, Bowles went on as if the Haas/CNC contract was already a done deal.

That article got such a wide and frenzied response that Bowles has decided to continue with the "unnamed source" theme, in his Friday "Inside NASCAR" assignment.

But he slipped up and left clues as to his "unnamed source" may be. Please feel free to set your sense of humor lose as I--tongue firmly in cheek--debunk some of the "points" in his article while exposing this source.

Theorem: The "unnamed source" is a fictitious character created from various quotes from various sources, including drivers, fans, crewmembers, and drinking buddies.

The first paragraph of the article begins with a phrase that could be attributed to anybody, fan, driver, etc, who has some connection to the sport, but ends with comments that lead us to believe that the source is likely a driver:

I love going to Richmond. It's a great race for the fans, and it's an enjoyable race for the drivers. It's a good short track; I like the fact that you can get side-by-side there. It's two wide, great racing all the way around, and it's always easy to get beside someone ... although it's really hard to complete the pass. That can be very frustrating, but that's just part of it. I think every track has its challenges; but even though it's great that we can run two-wide at Richmond all the way around, I still wouldn't want to race there every week. Even though I think that running four-wide at Talladega is great, I still wouldn't want to race there every race, either.

A little later, the source claims to have tested at Iowa and says what Rusty did in designing the track to be better than Richmond:

A great race track that I think they did a tremendous job with is the Iowa Speedway. Iowa is a better Richmond, in my mind. It's a little bit bigger, 7/8 of a mile, but it's short enough that you can get in there and you could race. We've been there testing, and I've run the second groove in a test; I know you could run it in a race.

What Rusty did with that race track, they took the best qualities of Richmond and then they fixed the worst qualities. One problem with Richmond ... one reason you get guys stuck side-by-side is turn three, and coming out of two, in particular, it gets so tight over there that the guy on the bottom -- is that the banking falls away so quick you can't complete the pass. When you get stuck side-by-side with someone, it's typically because the guy on the bottom doesn't have enough room to keep his speed. Well, they fixed that in Iowa. In Iowa, you come out of all turns with a little more banking, so you don't get loose, and I think they did a fabulous job with it.

This rules out Joey Lagano, who has raced at Iowa, but hasn't raced at Richmond, while the source has only tested at Iowa Speedway, but has raced at Richmond. Some names who fit that criteria, are Paul Menard, Dale Earnhardt, Jr, Martin Truex, Jr., and Steven Wallace. From the raving about Iowa and Rusty with no apparent prompting, and claiming that Iowa is better than Richmond, the clues are leaning toward Wallace.

"I don't know what Tony Stewart's doing; he hasn't told me yet."

That could be anybody. It is the most truthful statement Bowles has written in two weeks.

This next statement rules out Dale Earnhardt, Jr, and Martin Truex, Jr, because those two, at least, know about the exception when being forced below the line.

Kyle Busch should have been black flagged for his pass below the yellow line at Talladega. To me, it's a black and white rule. There's a very bright line going on the bottom of the race track, and if you pass somebody under it, it's very obvious that you did. NASCAR had said on many occasions that, "Gentlemen, this is a black and white rule. There is no gray area. There is no interpretation. If you go below the yellow line, you will be black flagged."

And, judging by the next statement, the "source" is apparently immature and has a predisposition against Kyle Busch, and seems to be making excuses for his own frequent wrecking:

And another thing; the only reason Kyle Busch hated Talladega [before Sunday] was because he wasn't any good. The only reason he hated it was because he always wrecked!

That comment could have just as well come from someone who has never raced in NASCAR. Add the next statement, which is something no driver who gets on the track wanting to compete with other drivers, would say about another driver, outside of a post incident "heat of the moment" rant.

Robby Gordon's going to be out of control at Richmond. It's really difficult to race around him. He's a great person off the race track, but he clearly loses his head when he gets in the race car. He's just a pain in the ass

That is one person's opinion. That person also claims that the Big One is no fault of Talladega, because people crash at every track. That leads us back to thinking the source is either Paul Menard or Steven Wallace, who crash at every track.

In order to narrow the identity of the "source" a little better, we should look at Wallace's post-race comments from Friday and compare them with the previous comments about other drivers:

"He’s just a little girl about it," Wallace continued. "I don’t know. I think it’s pretty bad when they call driver introductions and everybody in the grandstand boos you. He’s a sore loser."

If you noticed a similarity in the attitude, you are not alone.
But still, there is nothing conclusive here. The "source" could be a conglomerate of many people, or it could be Bowles' alternate personality. It could be Steve Wallace, or it could be Lauren Wallace, who is a fictitious character played by an actor.

I am tending toward Lauren.

Looking forward to Richmond

There is no mistaking that our favorite races on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit take place at the tracks that are 1.36 miles in length or shorter. There are no "cookie cutters" here--every track is unique.

This group includes Darlington, Richmond, Bristol, Loudon, Dover, Martinsville, Phoenix, and Richmond. It is very difficult to pick a favorite out of these, but mine is Richmond. The frontstretch, with its long, 8 degree banked curve, and long turns with 14 degree banking at each end of the straightaways, make for some very interesting racing. Like most short tracks, it usually features plenty of bumpin' and bangin' while at the same time offering multiple grooves and side by side racing. Like most short track racing, the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond will focus on drivers skills and guts.

Denny Hamlin is on a tear. Out of the last seven races this year, he has posted six top ten finishes, including five top fives and one win. That win was at the other Virginia short track, Martinsville, and there is no doubt that he could make it two for two in his home state.

He won't do it without some competition. There are several other drivers who consider Richmond their favorite track, and have records to prove it. Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr each have three wins at the track, and Kyle Busch has only finished outside of the top five in one out of six races there. Jimmie Johnson swept both Richmond last year, and Kevin Harvick has the top driver rating* at Richmond with a 121.2

*Driver Rating : Formula combining the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish. Maximum: 150 points per race. (Racing One.com)

We can't overlook Mark Martin here, either, because he has 23 top ten finishes at Richmond, the most of any current driver. Ryan Newman, however has the best finishing average of all drivers who have raced in every Cup race at Richmond since 2002.

So the competition is going to be tough, the action fast paced, and the racing hard. There should be plenty of green flag racing, since there is some passing room there, but there will also be times when the traffic is thick, and mistakes will be made.

I'm guessing a JGR sweep of the top three places this week. All three drivers have the guts and aggressiveness it takes to win at a track like Richmond, and they arguably have the best cars in the field.

But then, the beauty of short track racing is that anybody can win.

More "pure speculation" on my part, this time.

In spite of all my initial pessimism, skepticism, and cynicism toward the early attention given Tony Stewart's racing or non-racing future, Rev'Jim's RantsnRaves finds itself sucked into the speculation game, hip waders and all.
The blame for this can be put squarely on Randy Moss' entry into the business of NASCAR Truck Series team ownership.
Moss isn't just a NASCAR fan with a lot of money. According to the article he is already somewhat involved in racing:

The interest in racing isn't new to Moss, a 1998 first-round draft pick out of Marshall. He sponsors a local dirt track program in his native West Virginia and serves as a goodwill ambassador for the Urban Youth Racing School headquartered in Philadelphia.

Moss seems to know what he is doing, contracting with Integrety Sports Marketing Group to help him kick start the team and find sponsors, team members, and a manufacturer.

He also told ESPN's NASCAR Now that he has talked to Joe Gibbs for advice and guidance.

Building a successful team means "putting the right people in the right place doing the right things."

If that sounds like Tony Stewart talking about his management at Eldora Speedway ot his Tony Stewart Racing team's success in World of Outlaws and USAC, it is. But, it is also the exact words Randy Moss used on NASCAR Now, Wednesday afternoon while discussing his chances for success as a truck series owner.

Tony Stewart has been listening to offers from other teams, some of which include a partial team ownership, and has described these offers as "exciting."

In statements to the press last week, Joe and JD Gibbs made it clear that such an offer was not in the works for Stewart, if he were to stay with JGR. However, "Our [ownership] deal is set the way it is," Gibbs said. "But we could do some stuff to help him get started with his own team if that's what he really wanted."

Until 2003, JGR fielded a Truck Series team for Coy Gibbs, who gave racing a try then decided he wasn't cut out for it. It is logical to assume that "some stuff" may include supporting a Tony Stewart team in the Truck Series. To those of us who have paid attention to Smoke over the years, it is unlikely that he would be involved in team ownership on the Cup level while racing full time. But if he were to have ownership in the Truck Series, that may be a different story.

If Tony Stewart decides to stay with Gibbs, to race full time until he turns forty, there seems to be an opportunity here for a possible "Stewart-Moss" Toyota team in the Truck Series in 2009. Can you see it?

Maybe not, but the speculation is fun, even without "unnamed sources." And if it actually comes to pass, remember you read it here first.

Ten reasons why I love Richmond International Raceway

10. It's a high speed short track
9, It reminds me of PPIR
8. The drivers like it
7. The fans love it
6. Did I mention it reminds me of PPIR?
5. Saturday night circle burning!
4. It reminds me of PPIR
3. "Home" for Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, and Bootie Barker
2. It reminds me of PPIR
1. "Virginia is for Lovers!"

Happy Birthday Dale!

Not Your Mother's NASCAR

Moment of the week

The biggest star of the show in Victory Lane after the Aaron's 312 Nationwide Series Race was not race winner Tony Stewart, but this little girl, from Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Racing One.com

Pegging the Wow Meter

Admittedly, I always go into the beginning of a restrictor-plate race with a mixture of anxious anticipation and some skepticism. The skepticism is because the outcome of a restrictor-plate race of depends a lot on luck and hitting the right set-up on the car. Because of the effect of the restrictor-plate on the ability of the car to close or pass, That skepicism seems somewhat justified in the first 28 laps of the Aaron's 499, as the lead pack seems to settle into the dreaded single-file parade. Granted, there is some action in the second pack, but stuck at home in a neighborhood where the AM radio reception is so bad listening to MRN is out of the question, we really can't keep track of that action.

But on lap 29, the Wow Meter starts to rise to the upper end as Denny Hamlin has pushed Jamie McMurray to the front, then drops down in front of Tony Stewart to take the lead. The real racing has only begun.

Ten laps later, just before green flag pit stops are scheduled to begin, the lead pack is three wide, and the lead is constantly changing. The Wow Meter has pegged and we are even wondering if these drivers might be getting too aggressive too early, and the idea of an early Big One looms.
But this is precision driving, folks. There is much more to this kind of racing than going in circles and turning left. The excellence of Earnhardt, Jr and Tony Stewart as drafting partners isn't due to luck, and just mashing the pedal and turning left; these guys are literally running nose to tail, and avoiding wrecks. Formula 1 fans, take note; this may be a different type of skill than it takes to keep a car on the track and hold position at over 200 mph on a Gran Prix cicuit, but it reauires a high level of skill nonetheless. Granted an F1 driver has to be precise--even while running alone, he has to hit his marks and maintain speed to avoid being overtaken or lose position during a pit stop. These NASCAR drivers have to be just as precise running in a pack, or else disaster happens.

With twenty-five laps to go we are beginning to think we may avoid the Big One entirely, but then it happens...almost. Kyle Busch and Jamie McMurray make contact and both cars go sideways in the middle of traffic, but there is no wreck. There is no caution, and after that miraculous save, Busch took the lead.

Then, with only fifteen laps to go our hearts break. When you are a competitive driver and there are fifteen laps left at Talladega, you want to start your move to the front aggressively. Tony Stewart, who had cut a tire earlier and ended up in the back of the pack, saw an opportunity and found a hole in which he could advance his position. But, as the pack entered the turn the hole closed, and the result was the Big One, affecting six cars. It was a no-fault accident, just one of those things that happens in these kind of races. The hole was there, then it wasn't.

But the race went on, and Kyle Busch, who had been a lap down early in the race, still lead. We remember that we should never underestimate the Dodges at restrictor-plate races as Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, and Juan Pablo Montoya enter the battle for the lead, which is joined by Michael Waltrip, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon. The race continues to be exciting, the Wow Meter is still pegged, and, with eight laps to go the bumper panel is forcefully removed from the back of Brian Vickers' car, bringing out a debris caution.

The final restart begins a free for all with every car on the track jockeying for position. There are so many passes and lead changes during the restart lap we can't keep track of it. Plenty of blocking and bump drafting and wild maneuvering keeps the Wow Meter pegged. And out of the fray, Kyle Busch, who has never done well at Talladega, prevails.

The battle continues down to the white flag. The last lap is shaping up to be a great race to the finish there are at least eight cars in position to win. But that race is soon spoiled by the second Big One, this one involving more than ten cars. It doesn't matter what caused it, the race was over. Kyle Busch has won the race. Even before he begins his victory celebration he is thanking Juan Pablo Montoya and Jeff Gordon, who both contributed to keeping the young superstar in the lead.
The guy who thought the best he could do was to avoid trouble at Talladega found victory lane.

We have declared on several occasions in the past after a Cup race at Talladega, "This was the best restrictor-plate race ever!"

It seems as though we can make that declaration once again, modifying it to "one of the best," along with the realization that the new Sprint Cup car may finally be coming into its own. It could have been better, but the second Big One spoiled what could have been a very exciting finish.

Afterthought: Maybe Dale Earnhardt, Jr didn't have the best car in the field, but throughout the race he performed better than his team mates, who presumably had better setups. Even after having his car damaged in the first Big One, he finished in the top ten. That says a lot about him as a driver. Even those of us who aren't Jr fans should realize that he is one of the best, and that he does have a victory in his near future. Patience, friends, it will happen when the time is right.
It should be that Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch both celebrated their first Talladega win this weekend. Congratulations to both, and to Joe Gibbs Racing.