Let's debate: Should Sprint Cup Series race in the rain?
In this week's edition of Bump 'n' Run, FOXSports.com editors Jared Turner, Jay Pennell and Joe Menzer debate the hottest NASCAR topics of the week and have a little fun trading friendly barbs in the process.
1. NASCAR announced a number of rule changes on Tuesday, including elimination of preseason testing at Daytona and that the Sprint Cup Series will race in the rain on road courses -- if the weather doesn't cooperate. What should we make of all this?
Jared Turner: Turn on the wipers, bolt on the rain tires, and let's do this! It's high time NASCAR let its top series race in the rain. It's been happening -- and to great success, I might add -- in the Nationwide Series for several years.
Jay Pennell: If the ultimate goal of the ban on testing is a cost-saving measure, teams are going to take that money and spend it elsewhere. I think the fans that have been going to Daytona preseason testing for years are going to be very disappointed.
Joe Menzer: I'm all for a ban on preseason testing, which was expensive for teams with arguably little gained in return. I guess I feel bad for the fans who enjoyed Preseason Thunder or whatever it was called, but I think most fans didn't give a crap anyway, and it was unnecessary. As for racing in the rain, I'm all for it!
Pennell: I agree on racing in the rain. We've seen the NNS cars race a few times in the rain and they've put on some interesting shows. Let's see what the Cup guys can do!
Jared Turner
Follow Jared on Twitter @jared_turner
Menzer: The only ones who won't like racing in the rain are the drivers. They hate it. Ask any of the Nationwide guys. It annoys them that their championship might come down to what they consider a real crapshoot. But I say so what? They are there to put a show on for the fans, and while I understand their complaints, it sure is fun to watch.
Pennell: I think Brendan Gaughan may disagree with you there! He seemed to enjoy it earlier this year when he won the Nationwide race at Road America.
Menzer: I say add more road courses and send those planes into the sky that sprinkle that stuff that causes rain into the clouds!
Turner: By the way, Joe, Jimmie Johnson seemed to like the idea of racing in the rain when we chatted Tuesday out at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I actually think most drivers will embrace the idea. Now, the crew chiefs and guys who build the cars ... that could be another story!
Pennell: You also have to remember the other problem with racing in the rain. When things inside a race car get wet, the electrical components tend to go haywire. That will be something to watch as well.
Jay Pennell
Follow Jay on Twitter @jaywpennell
Turner: Jimmie seemed to wholeheartedly agree with all of the major changes, except the testing ban. He seemed on the fence about that. I'm sure Chad Knaus learns a lot of tricks during testing, if you know what I mean.
Menzer: Well, Jimmie might say he likes driving in the rain while standing out of the rain at Charlotte Motor Speedway on an off day. But I remember doing a story on this a couple years ago and talking with a number of the Cup guys about the possibility -- and to a man, they all seemed against it. Their argument was that they can't practice for it and therefore it shouldn't figure into possibly determining a championship.
Pennell: But hey, the fans want it, so I say bring it on! Nobody likes to pay their hard-earned money on a race ticket only to have it rained out, right? Put on a show, rain or shine.
Menzer: Well, as you said earlier, Jay, Brendan Gaughan sure seemed to like it this year in Nationwide. And to me, that's what could be cool about it. One guy stays out on old rain tires when the track dries to gain track position and then holds off other guys on better tires at the end. It was awesome.
Turner: These guys are getting paid a lot of money to race. If they don't like running in the rain, well, they can deal!
Joe Menzer
Follow Joe on Twitter @OneMenz
2. What's in the water over at Team Penske, and why is the organization able to do so well with a two-car operation when others struggle with four cars in their stable?
Pennell: One word: Chemistry.
Menzer: They have a secret weapon. His name is Michael McDowell. They also have great engineers, some of which have come from other organizations in recent years -- thereby weakening opponents while making themselves stronger.
Pennell: The chemistry between driver and crew chief, as well as between drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano, have elevated everyone and everything in this organization, and allowed them to work so well together and beat the competition.
But Michael McDowell? What's in your water this morning, Joe?!
Menzer: And of course they have great drivers and crew chiefs and all the rest, too.
Turner: Penske is laser-focused on two cars and making them as fast as possible, while other organizations with more cars are spread more thin. On that chemistry thing that Jay mentioned, it's a lot easier to have chemistry between two teams than four. That's just common sense.
But Michael McDowell? The secret weapon at Penske? I think I'll make that the subject of my next column. Go back to bed, Joe. You're old, remember?
Menzer: Michael McDowell does lots of testing for them and gives them great feedback. And prior to this year, Team Penske was smart enough to set up an agreement to share information with Leavine Family Racing, which runs a part-time schedule in Cup with McDowell as their driver. It has helped them a lot.
Pennell: Ouch! Shots fired! I think Team Penske understands that in order to compete and win against Hendrick Motorsports and the like, they have to function as a total team effort. I feel like that will continue all the way to Homestead where the champion is crowned. Joey Logano and Walt Czarnecki (Penske executive vice president) seemed to indicate that after Logano won recently at Bristol.
Turner: In all seriousness, the key to Penske's success is pretty simple, I think. They have two great drivers, two great crew chiefs, a great owner and great engineers. And Brad is still out to prove something after missing the Chase last year. Joey still has a chip on his shoulder from his lack of success at Joe Gibbs Racing. Two talented drivers with extra motivation and great resources are always dangerous.
Menzer: Hey, anyone can sit here and tell you the obvious: That Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano are great drivers. It's like the Geico commercial, Jared -- everyone knows that! I'm trying to give you some inside scoop here.
Pennell: I think what also has helped them a lot is the backing of Ford. Sure, they ran Fords last year and stumbled, but I think there were other factors there. Given the struggles of Roush Fenway Racing, I think Ford is committed to the belief that Team Penske is now the No. 1 team for the Blue Ovals.
Menzer: Of course there were other factors last year. They had never run Fords before! And they didn't have Michael McDowell as their secret weapon!
You guys are totally missing my point -- they are doing more with less because they are working smarter, not harder. All the top teams have great drivers and crew chiefs. Team Penske worked in the off-season to improve infrastructure and they developed sort of a satellite deal that gave them more data from McDowell as if they had a third team. Trust me, it has helped. Ask (Team Penske competition director) Travis Geisler.
Pennell: Everyone has satellite deals, Joe. I'm not sure Levine Family Racing is giving the same information to Penske that Stewart-Haas Racing is giving Hendrick Motorsports or Furniture Row is providing Richard Childress Racing.
Turner: Inside scoop, Joe? Now I just want ice cream. Hey, Jay, you used to work in the ice cream business there for a bit. Any suggestions on flavors?
Pennell: Anything from Ben & Jerry's. I'd go with some Coffee, Coffee, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz to kick start your day. Let's just steer clear of the politics, Jared, and I think we'll be OK.
Turner: Thanks, Jay. I know where I'll be headed when we're done here. Let's move on to question 3!
My mouth is shut on that other topic, Jay, lucky for you.
Menzer: If only we could get it to shut on some other topics, we would be in great shape!
Turner: Well, I was going to bring you back some ice cream, Joe. Forget it now. Back to bed, I said.
Pennell: Boom! Jared-1, Joe-1. It's like I'm back officiating scholastic wrestling matches!
3. As we head to Dover, which four drivers do you see failing to make it out of there as far as getting knocked out of the Chase?
Menzer: This is easy ... Almirola, Kurt Busch, Biffle and Allmendinger. Oh, and McDowell. ... Is he in it?
Pennell: Denny Hamlin, AJ Allmendinger, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch.
Turner: If we were heading to any other track, I'd say Denny Hamlin moves on -- despite being that 13th Chase driver. But I seriously have my doubts now. Denny isn't very good at The Monster Mile, and the relationship between him and crew chief Darian Grubb appears to be rocky at best.
Pennell: I initially had both Hamlin and Kurt Busch moving on, but their struggles over the last two weeks have me doubting their ability to stay in it.
Menzer: I totally disagree with both of you. Hamlin will rise up and do what needs to be done to move on. And we are still waiting for you to answer the actual question, Jared.
Pennell: Allmendinger has run well at Dover in the past, so he could surprise us all.
Menzer: I hope Jay is right and I'm wrong about Allmendinger, who has indeed run well at Dover in the past -- for stretches. He's rarely finished well, though, with only three top-10s in 13 career starts.
Turner: To answer the question, since Old Man Joe is getting impatient (it must be time for his nap), the four drivers who won't be moving on are Denny, Almirola, Allmendinger and Biffle.
Pennell: Man, all of us agree on Greg Biffle. Remember when Biffle and Roush used to be so good at Dover? The race a few years back where Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards raced hard for the win was one of the best I've seen at Dover, and I've been going there since 1991!
Turner: There's your answer, Joe! Happy now? Just to elaborate further, both Roush cars that are in the Chase have been downright awful in the two races. The only reason Carl will move on is because of the bonus points he brought into the Chase from his two regular-season wins. Biffle is going nowhere, which is bit puzzling, considering he actually finished the regular season on a fairly strong note.
Menzer: And also considering that you have to figure most of the resources and effort at RFR right now are backing the Biffle team, not the lame-duck Edwards operation.
Pennell: Finishing on a fairly strong note? Jared, you can't be serious. The Roush cars have been downright pitiful when it comes to speed. I think it was amazing Edwards and crew chief Jimmy Fennig were able to score two wins this year, given their lack of speed and resources.
Menzer: Jared's sugar level is low. He needs a Bear Claw from the break room.
Turner: Go back and look at your stat file, Jay. Biffle had something like six top-10 finishes in the last seven regular-season races. If he had continued down that path the past two weekends, he'd be poised to advance. You don't have to run in the top five to advance out of the Challenger Round. Everyone knows that. Again, go back and look at the stats. I'm not making this up.
Menzer: You want to throw stats out there? You said Hamlin stinks at Dover. He finished fifth there in the spring!
Turner: Say it ain't so, Joe! Man, that's one race. You can't base anything on one race. Let's look at the full body of work. Mr. Hamlin is horrible at Dover.
Pennell: Biffle was never a factor and was never going to be a factor in this Chase, and has proven that to be the case. One thing I do know, based on what we've seen the last two weekends, Dover is going to be a completely wild race.
Menzer: Again ... I refer to the Geico commercial. Everyone knows that.
Pennell: I can't tell you how many races I've seen there, both as a young fan and media member, when the leader has plowed his car into the wall off Turn 2. You can be out front at Dover and the Monster can still bite you. It will be wild for sure.
Menzer: And wild afterward, too, when Jay hits the casino that is part of the wonderful Dover complex.
Turner: Well, it's been real. Glad Jay and I agreed on a couple things. And, Joe, well, you have left me speechless once again. Go check your mail. I'm sure the AARP has your back in this. Peace out!
Pennell: I'm going to double down!
VIDEO: A closer look at all of NASCAR's rules changes for 2015
