2026 Silly Season

JJ_14 said:
I don't think Bowman is a good example of "merit means nothing". He's a solid driver and his sponsors love him. You could do a whole lot worse in that 48 car.
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I don’t disagree, Bowman is good but he’s also the weak link on a VERY strong team. Heim has so much potential. Toyota clearly is fine with wasting his potential so someone needs to pounce.
 
Naitch said:
I don’t disagree, Bowman is good but he’s also the weak link on a VERY strong team. Heim has so much potential. Toyota clearly is fine with wasting his potential so someone needs to pounce.
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Even a full time good Xfinity ride would be a step up. It doesn't take much for Heim to move up the food chain.
 
StandOnIt said:
Even a full time good Xfinity ride would be a step up. It doesn't take much for Heim to move up the food chain.
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I wish a sponsor would step up and buy him a ride with JR Motorsports. This seems like a prime opportunity for Chevy to pounce. But of course, Carson Kvapil may end up with a part time schedule next year because of the funding merry go round.

Good talent going to waste. Thankfully Justin Marks was able to find funding for Zilisch.
 
Naitch said:
I wish a sponsor would step up and buy him a ride with JR Motorsports. This seems like a prime opportunity for Chevy to pounce. But of course, Carson Kvapil may end up with a part time schedule next year because of the funding merry go round.

Good talent going to waste. Thankfully Justin Marks was able to find funding for Zilisch.
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The preacher instead of using Heim this year in Xfinity part time, hires re tread Almirola instead. 23XI has no Xfinity opportunities. Figure that out. Preacher on the other hand farmed out Nemechek pit crew and all to Legacy. Make it make sense.
 
StandOnIt said:
The preacher instead of using Heim this year in Xfinity part time, hires re tread Almirola instead. 23XI has no Xfinity opportunities. Figure that out. Preacher on the other hand farmed out Nemechek pit crew and all to Legacy. Make it make sense.
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The Preacher just wants to keep his brat grandson happy.
 
Naitch said:
Sad commentary on our sport. Merit means nothing, just whether you kiss the ass the writes the biggest check.
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With a few notable exceptions, sponsors don't offer their asses unless you've demonstrated some talent. Bowman isn't one of those exceptions. If Bowman wasn't performing well enough to keep Ally's logo in front of the TV cameras, they'd be pushing to get someone else in the car who had enough talent to do so.
 
StandOnIt said:
The preacher instead of using Heim this year in Xfinity part time, hires re tread Almirola instead.
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It's just my personal preference but I'd rather run full-time Trucks and be eligible for a title than part-time in Xfinity with no shot. Gibbs was going to run that car part-time regardless of who was in the seat.
 
Revman said:
Well if The Felon didn't leech off of the development of others, he could jettison Cutie Pie, and put Heim in the seat....but we don't talk about that. You've dumped Rowdy....Could I interest you in a Heim prize pack?
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Why not the Yota's pay for the development? I mean they seem to sign just about everyone to a developmental contract with "no room at the inn". And one guy they kicked to the curb because they didn't believe in him is now a 3 time cup champion.

Beside Bell who have they developed that they have in a top ride and is performing? Denise has been with them the whole time, but I dont think you can claim he was developed by them.
 
wi_racefan said:
Why not the Yota's pay for the development? I mean they seem to sign just about everyone to a developmental contract with "no room at the inn". And one guy they kicked to the curb because they didn't believe in him is now a 3 time cup champion.

Beside Bell who have they developed that they have in a top ride and is performing? Denise has been with them the whole time, but I dont think you can claim he was developed by them.
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Why is Toyota bad for signing drivers to developmental contracts? Chevy and Ford could do the same, but they don't. Why? Not as invested. I hear the bitch and whine here about T2D....signing drivers who may or may not bring money, and giving them a shot. Sounds like a good idea to me....but you know....theToyota narrative.
 
StandOnIt said:
Revman Yota speak. Riceburner to reality translation. It's Hendrick's fault that the Yotas don't have a decent spot for Heim.
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Do you really think that Heim isn't aware of his future? He must be okay with it. If The Felon wanted Heim, he could have had him, but you know, his smug stupid line about letting others do the work for him.
 
Revman said:
Why is Toyota bad for signing drivers to developmental contracts? Chevy and Ford could do the same, but they don't. Why? Not as invested. I hear the bitch and whine here about T2D....signing drivers who may or may not bring money, and giving them a shot. Sounds like a good idea to me....but you know....theToyota narrative.
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Probably because they derail more driving careers than they advance. It's a new cattle call every year it seems.
 
Naitch said:
He doesn’t really have a lot of options so he has to be okay with it.
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That is the point for sure. Revman is doing his shill best to distract, but fact is Heim should be at a higher level than he has been held to. For an example ARCA rookie Brendan Queen is starting an Xfinity race his first full year. Rookie part timer Corey Day has raced ARCA, Trucks and Xfinity already. It has taken Heim years to do things like that and he is a proven talent.
 
StandOnIt said:
That is the point for sure. Revman is doing his shill best to distract, but fact is Heim should be at a higher level than he has been held to. For an example ARCA rookie Brendan Queen is starting an Xfinity race his first full year. Rookie part timer Corey Day has raced ARCA, Trucks and Xfinity already. It has taken Heim years to do things like that and he is a proven talent.
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Whoever gets Heim is getting a winner. I just hope he doesn’t get stuck at LMC.
 
Revman said:
Why is Toyota bad for signing drivers to developmental contracts? Chevy and Ford could do the same, but they don't. Why? Not as invested. I hear the bitch and whine here about T2D....signing drivers who may or may not bring money, and giving them a shot. Sounds like a good idea to me....but you know....theToyota narrative.
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I never said it was bad but I do think its hurts a lot of careers. They sign 2 or 3 times as many drivers as they have spots.
The funny thing to me is the amount they spend developing drivers and still poach guys from other teams. They were pressuring chase hard to keep him out of the 21, they took 2 drivers from roush..... If they're doing such a good job why do they always look elsewhere?
 
wi_racefan said:
I never said it was bad but I do think its hurts a lot of careers. They sign 2 or 3 times as many drivers as they have spots.
The funny thing to me is the amount they spend developing drivers and still poach guys from other teams. They were pressuring chase hard to keep him out of the 21, they took 2 drivers from roush..... If they're doing such a good job why do they always look elsewhere?
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So I think that more drivers than spots is not a big deal. Drivers can leave to go elsewhere....contracts are made to be broken, and I am pretty sure that those development contracts are no exception. As for poaching? The Felon brags about it, so it must be okay. With that aside, I am thinking that sponsors play into this to a degree. Chase is a perfect fit for Bass Pro and the 19 team. I guess my thing with the bitching about the T2D is that if these prospects had other opportunities, they would go that direction. Toyota is giving them a shot to work on their careers. Again, how can that be bad....other than for the competition who doesn't want to invest in the sport as much as Toyota as WE get the first shot?
 
StandOnIt said:
Probably because they derail more driving careers than they advance. It's a new cattle call every year it seems.
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Explain to me how they do this. I get that you are quoting the Tony Stewart line, but he didn't explain it either. What the hell is wrong with a cattle call? Who else is giving these kids any kind of shot?
 
Naitch said:
I don’t disagree, Bowman is good but he’s also the weak link on a VERY strong team. Heim has so much potential. Toyota clearly is fine with wasting his potential so someone needs to pounce.
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....and when he comes up too early, we Ty Gibbs him, don't we?
 
Naitch said:
I wish a sponsor would step up and buy him a ride with JR Motorsports. This seems like a prime opportunity for Chevy to pounce. But of course, Carson Kvapil may end up with a part time schedule next year because of the funding merry go round.

Good talent going to waste. Thankfully Justin Marks was able to find funding for Zilisch.
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Speaking of Carson. A friend of mine, who knows someone, mentioned to me when we talked about this part time thing. It's because he quite possibly has a Cup ride next year, in the 7 car.
 
Revman said:
....and when he comes up too early, we Ty Gibbs him, don't we?
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It’s just like college football. There are a lot of current cup guys who did great in Xfinity who never really panned out. Austin Dillon and Bubba Wallace are good examples of guys I thought would win more races than they have
 
Formerjackman said:
Let us not forget that Alex is two crew errors away from advancing to at least the final 8 last year, and at least the final 12 this year. Do we want to start a list of drivers that can't say that?
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Bowman is by no means a bad driver but he’s the clear weak link at HMS. He’s a one win per year guy (with the exception of 2021) and his average finish is consistently between 14th and 17th for his entire Hendrick tenure. Those are good but not spectacular numbers.

There’s a good argument that replacing Bowman with someone like Heim would be a good long term gamble. In the short term, he’ll be worse than Bowman but I think that by the year 3, he’ll be a regular championship contender.

I don’t think Bowman’s numbers warrant having a sponsor absolutely insist that someone should be in a car. But I respect that Bowman is good with sponsors so whatever. You have to pay the bills. And Almirola had the same loyalty from Smithfield.

I can see where you can disagree. Bowman is at least consistent, there’s a risk that Heim totally bombs. You know what Bowman is and what you’re getting.
 
Not everybody that shows promise should or can end up at Hendrick. Heim could have a good career with many teams, but it isn't going to happen in the Trucks Nobody will shut up about his talent while he is in the Truck series. He needs to move up period.
 
I think the Burton boys would perform better if they were brothers, not cousins. They're lacking sibling rivalry as a competitive influence.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
I think the Burton boys would perform better if they were brothers, not cousins. They're lacking sibling rivalry as a competitive influence.
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IMO Jeb lacks money and Harrison lacks talent. Put them in equal equipment week for week and I'd bet Jeb comes out ahead at the end of the season.
 
I started out liking Jeb. but he has made some pretty bad moves over the years, I think he is involved in too many wrecks. That has to be cleaned up. Young Harry? I don't care about young Harry. He was given every chance to succeed, silver platter rides and who knows where he goes from here. I think Jeb will have more staying power.
 
Formerjackman said:
Keep in mind Bowman's stats include a blown engine and a couple of wrecks that weren't his fault. Honestly I feel like they have shown more speed, if not consistency than the 9.
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Also it is Bowman who is driving the experimental car, so if an idea isn't so good, neither is his run.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Well, here's an open seat, although it doesn't strike me as one that other Cup drivers will be calling their agents about. Maybe an Xfinity driver with a Cup monkey on his back will take it. We don't know how desperate Kyle Busch is, either.

Then again, Spire may use this as an opportunity to cut back to two cars and lease a charter out.

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Maybe Suarez as a replacement? Hard to know. Sponsorship will dictate directions.
 
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