It's half time coach....what's the plan?
After Saturday night's race at Daytona, to me the following two
weeks are critical to these race teams who are in the Chase or trying
to get into the Chase. For that matter, it's also important to teams
simply trying to get their program back on track.
The reason for that is that now is the time that drivers are
getting nervous. Team members are getting nervous. Sponsors are getting
nervous and owners are too. I see it as being similar to halftime of a
game when a coach runs down what is going right and what is going
wrong. Naturally he also tells them what they need to do to win the
game.
So these teams need to evaluate where they are and what
they need to do to make their car better because they are starting the
swing to the second time around to these race tracks. What do you need
to do? Is it personnel? Is it car changes? The key if you are having a
good year so far is to keep that momentum going. We have nine races to
go plus a week off before the Chase even starts. You need to get your
guys pumped up and refocused, especially if you are a top-four team.
Those guys look to be locked in, so keep doing what you are doing.
Now
for a team like the No. 99 that is barely one race inside the top 12
and still doesn't have any wins, they have to really get going. I know
it's hard to believe, but Mark Martin and Kyle Busch have three wins,
but there is a chance they could be on the outside looking in. So it's
reality time for the crew chiefs that are running these teams, to
evaluate where they are and figure out what they need to do to start
executing.
For Kasey Kahne and David Reutimann, who both have a
win and are just outside the top 12, they have to scratch and claw and
get themselves back up in there. Now that's different from a Kevin
Harvick, Matt Kenseth or Dale Earnhardt Jr. because those three are out
of the Chase and they need to begin working now on their 2010 program.
We
aren't like other sports that have a trade deadline. So we can have
people moving around to other teams at a moment's notice all the way up
to the green flag at Homestead. But now is the time when things start
moving and shaking with all these teams, so it's going to get
interesting especially in these next two weeks.
Chad Knaus has shown for the last three years that
he is the master. He has owned the second half of the year and most
notably, he has owned the Chase. To me, he is the Vince Lombardi of the
group that is out there. Steve LeTarte is right there really close by.
He could be working his magic and might make something happen to steal
a championship from Chad.
Guys like Alan Gustafson have really
impressed me. He has taken the veteran driver Mark Martin and they both
have showcased their talents. Together they are making a lot of noise
in our sport this year. You also have to love the dynamic of youth vs.
experience when it comes to those two. The scary part for the
competitors has to be that of the three crew chiefs I have mentioned —
Chad, Steve and Alan — all three are in the Hendrick camp.
The
other one I wanted to mention, Darian Grubb, used to be in the Hendrick
camp. This guy has been on championship teams plus won the Daytona 500
so he really has the potential to make things really interesting for
Chad. I think if anyone underestimates Darian, well they could regret
it.
The No. 39 continues to improve with Tony Gibson calling
the shots for Ryan Newman. What they can't let happen is letting
themselves get caught up like the No. 18 car did last year. Last year
the No. 18 had everything going their way, but when it came crunch time
and the wheels came off, they could never regain their form. You can't
afford to get into a slump now, but especially not when the Chase
starts like it did for the No. 18 did last year.
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| Chad Knaus has shown he's one of the best in the business. (Jerry Markland / Getty Images) |
When you look at the success that both Darian and Tony Gibson are
experiencing with basically new start-up teams, other owners that are
struggling have to be looking at what they need to do to improve their
programs. While we always talk about Silly Season and affecting
drivers, I think this year we will see a lot more talk about crew chief
changes.
Look at what Jack Roush is doing now with the No. 6
car. Jimmy Fennig is one of the best crew chiefs in the business, in my
opinion. Yet he and driver David Ragan aren't exactly on the same page
so they are making a change there to try and jumpstart that program.
They simply have not been competitive all year long. I think you will
see this beginning to happen more and more with other teams.
Saturday
night at Daytona will be interesting. We have seen so many teams run
well at these restrictor plate races. Despite all the problems the
Stewart-Haas teams had there in February, I have to think they have
something to prove this time around. I think we will see them come back
stronger than ever.
Other than that, I think it's wide open for
Saturday night. I think the double-file restarts are going to have a
huge impact especially if we are in a Green-White-Checker scenario.
It's going to be something to write home about.
I'm glad you stopped by to see me today. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July.
Jeff
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