By Ron Lemasters Jr.
OK, what now?
Just kidding. This is the time of year when NASCAR fans sit back, reflect on the year just past and begin wondering, “is it too early to prep the RV for Daytona?”
Full of Thanksgiving turkey—among other things—and in the spirit of the 2006 NASCAR Awards Banquet in NYC, the Scoop has come up with a few post-season awards, though they're not the ones you'll see on Friday night from the Waldorf-Astoria.
The envelope, please….(drum roll, trumpet fanfare, etc.).
The Carl Edwards Coming Out of Nowhere Award: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing. If you look at the numbers, Hamlin is Carl Edwards, one year later. Hamlin racked up three poles, two victories (sweeping Pocono), eight top-five and 20 top-10 finishes. He finished third in the points, 68 behind winner Jimmie Johnson. In contrast, Edwards had two poles, four victories (sweeping Atlanta), 13 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes on his way to third in the points.
Hamlin is the Raybestos Rookie of the Year for 2006, while Edwards was not eligible in 2005.
Post-Crash Line of the Year Award: Jamie McMurray at Phoenix, after getting caught up in a mess with Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart. “I guess I'll just buy my Irwin Tools at Lowe's.” This was also a finalist for the most ingenious use of a sponsor plug, but that trophy has been retired by Michael Waltrip.
Fabricator Fatigue Award: McMurray and Mark Martin, Roush Racing (tie). These drivers were the fab shop's poster boys for job security, tearing up cars at an alarming rate. Of course, second place goes to the brothers Busch, who combined to shatter the all-time NASCAR record for crashes by siblings in the same year.
Welcome Wagon Award: Ryan Newman, Penske South Racing. His tap of Juan Montoya in the waning laps of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway resulted in a fairly impressive crash and burn by the Formula One grad. It also served as a good introduction to the Colombian ace as to how racing is done in the final laps over here.
Most Irritating Phrase of 2006: A five-way tie. Winners (?) are: Boogity, boogity, boogity; just one of them racin' deals; if the race ended right now…; …the laps are winding down here at XYZ Speedway; and we'll be back to XYZ Speedway after these important messages.
Bittersweet Memories Moment of 2006: Brian Vickers at Talladega. ‘Nuff said.
We'll Get ‘Em Next Year Award: Tony Stewart. Missing the Chase by 16 points provides enough incentive for Smoke to come back with a vengeance in 2007…in spite of the “Flying Brick.” Honorable mention: Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman.
OK, that's enough. Tune in Friday for the real NASCAR Awards.
It's a new day a-dawning in NASCAR for 2007. Toyota, the Car of Tomorrow, ABC/ESPN, there's plenty of fodder for Hot Stove discussion.
Did you ever wonder where the phrase “Hot Stove League” comes from? I know it from baseball, listening to Joe Knuxhall and Marty Brennemann on WLW Radio out of Cincinnati during the long Indiana winter.
I guess it means sitting around a hot stove, talking about Spring Training and your team's progress toward the World Series next season. Of course, we only have 11 weeks before the season starts in Daytona, so it probably needs to be the Hot Coleman Heater League (how's that for ingenious sponsor linkage?) for NASCAR.
For one, I'm looking forward to a few weekends off before we start all over again in Florida. Time to re-introduce yourselves to your family, spend a few days doing all the things you don't have time for during the season…who am I trying to kid? Let's go racing!
Memorable moments from 2006
Each week here, we'll call up a different meaningful moment from the 2006 season. The first one is, ironically, from Daytona in February. You sort of knew that the 48 car was going to win the 500 when crew chief Chad Knaus got booted for four weeks after NASCAR officials discovered, shall we say, creative interpretation of various rules.
Just one of those things in NASCAR that seems to have a certain symmetry, hmmm?
Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500 over Casey Mears. Anybody remember who Johnson took the lead from on his way to victory? Give you a hint: think Talladega. Nope, not Junior. It was (cue dramatic music) …Brian Vickers.
I'll leave you on that note. Until Friday, that is.
OK, what now?
Just kidding. This is the time of year when NASCAR fans sit back, reflect on the year just past and begin wondering, “is it too early to prep the RV for Daytona?”
Full of Thanksgiving turkey—among other things—and in the spirit of the 2006 NASCAR Awards Banquet in NYC, the Scoop has come up with a few post-season awards, though they're not the ones you'll see on Friday night from the Waldorf-Astoria.
The envelope, please….(drum roll, trumpet fanfare, etc.).
The Carl Edwards Coming Out of Nowhere Award: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing. If you look at the numbers, Hamlin is Carl Edwards, one year later. Hamlin racked up three poles, two victories (sweeping Pocono), eight top-five and 20 top-10 finishes. He finished third in the points, 68 behind winner Jimmie Johnson. In contrast, Edwards had two poles, four victories (sweeping Atlanta), 13 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes on his way to third in the points.
Hamlin is the Raybestos Rookie of the Year for 2006, while Edwards was not eligible in 2005.
Post-Crash Line of the Year Award: Jamie McMurray at Phoenix, after getting caught up in a mess with Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart. “I guess I'll just buy my Irwin Tools at Lowe's.” This was also a finalist for the most ingenious use of a sponsor plug, but that trophy has been retired by Michael Waltrip.
Fabricator Fatigue Award: McMurray and Mark Martin, Roush Racing (tie). These drivers were the fab shop's poster boys for job security, tearing up cars at an alarming rate. Of course, second place goes to the brothers Busch, who combined to shatter the all-time NASCAR record for crashes by siblings in the same year.
Welcome Wagon Award: Ryan Newman, Penske South Racing. His tap of Juan Montoya in the waning laps of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway resulted in a fairly impressive crash and burn by the Formula One grad. It also served as a good introduction to the Colombian ace as to how racing is done in the final laps over here.
Most Irritating Phrase of 2006: A five-way tie. Winners (?) are: Boogity, boogity, boogity; just one of them racin' deals; if the race ended right now…; …the laps are winding down here at XYZ Speedway; and we'll be back to XYZ Speedway after these important messages.
Bittersweet Memories Moment of 2006: Brian Vickers at Talladega. ‘Nuff said.
We'll Get ‘Em Next Year Award: Tony Stewart. Missing the Chase by 16 points provides enough incentive for Smoke to come back with a vengeance in 2007…in spite of the “Flying Brick.” Honorable mention: Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman.
OK, that's enough. Tune in Friday for the real NASCAR Awards.
It's a new day a-dawning in NASCAR for 2007. Toyota, the Car of Tomorrow, ABC/ESPN, there's plenty of fodder for Hot Stove discussion.
Did you ever wonder where the phrase “Hot Stove League” comes from? I know it from baseball, listening to Joe Knuxhall and Marty Brennemann on WLW Radio out of Cincinnati during the long Indiana winter.
I guess it means sitting around a hot stove, talking about Spring Training and your team's progress toward the World Series next season. Of course, we only have 11 weeks before the season starts in Daytona, so it probably needs to be the Hot Coleman Heater League (how's that for ingenious sponsor linkage?) for NASCAR.
For one, I'm looking forward to a few weekends off before we start all over again in Florida. Time to re-introduce yourselves to your family, spend a few days doing all the things you don't have time for during the season…who am I trying to kid? Let's go racing!
Memorable moments from 2006
Each week here, we'll call up a different meaningful moment from the 2006 season. The first one is, ironically, from Daytona in February. You sort of knew that the 48 car was going to win the 500 when crew chief Chad Knaus got booted for four weeks after NASCAR officials discovered, shall we say, creative interpretation of various rules.
Just one of those things in NASCAR that seems to have a certain symmetry, hmmm?
Jimmie Johnson won the Daytona 500 over Casey Mears. Anybody remember who Johnson took the lead from on his way to victory? Give you a hint: think Talladega. Nope, not Junior. It was (cue dramatic music) …Brian Vickers.
I'll leave you on that note. Until Friday, that is.
