Yahoo Autos Revved Up: Autoweek Racing Readers Have Their Say
Welcome to the first edition of Autoweek's Revved Up!
Every Wednesday—whether in-season or out (we know, technically there is no offseason in racing)—we’ll give you fans the opportunity to let your voices be heard on all things racing, be it NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar, IMSA, NHRA, or pretty much anything else that has two or four wheels and chases a checkered flag.
We’ll feature a combination of your opinions from the dedicated email link at the bottom of each story, comments submitted to stories both from the Autoweek Facebook page and reader takes from the comments section of stories published in our Racing section of our website.
Revved Up will give readers another opportunity to be heard, offer more opinion, and, of course, ask questions. And if I can’t answer your question myself, we have a great team of racing writers who can get to the bottom of it.
The rules are simple: Your opinion is always welcome, but we steer clear of cursing, character assassination, or ridicule of others’ opinion in the comments we'll use in this weekly feature.
For this opening mailbag, we’ve excerpted comments and a few questions from a dozen or so different stories that have appeared in the last few weeks at autoweek.com. Then there are other instances where I give my take on the topic (Editor’s note: Some reader comments/questions have been lightly edited for clarity and style).
So, readers, start your engines and let’s drop the green flag on the inaugural edition of Revved Up!
Why Two-Time NASCAR Cup Champ Kyle Busch Chose Richard Childress Racing
Readers Say:
Fred Mariano: Kyle is a winner, it don’t matter who he drive for. Bet he will put Childress Racing in the winning column. Sad for Toyota.
Marty Perry: Bad move, a step down for sure! JGR has had 162 wins since 2000. RCR has 42.
Lonnie Frazer to Marty Perry: I would say those numbers are about to change.
Autoweek Contributor Jerry Bonkowski Says: Kyle’s move to RCR really was the only one that made sense. Kyle needed an organization that he could bring back to prominence, and RCR needed a driver that could do the same. Plus, and this could be the real wildcard in this whole deal: Richard Childress is 76 years old. While his son-in-law, Mike Dillon, is the heir apparent to run the organization upon Richard’s retirement or death, don’t be surprised if Kyle doesn’t get some type of an ownership equity stake in RCR (which he wouldn’t get from Joe Gibbs Racing), much like Denny Hamlin with 23XI and Brad Keselowski with Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. I expect Kyle to race maybe another five years and then he’ll be ready to move into the front office, so to speak. And don’t be surprised if older brother Kurt, if he doesn’t return to driving, already has some sort of ownership equity stake in 23XI waiting.
Why the NHRA Is Failing to Attract Young Sensations to Pro Ranks
Readers Say:
@Roxie 44: I am a huge John Force fan. My question for him is “If you quit driving, will you put a 22-year-old driver in your car?”
@Geo8352: He's done it before; both (daughters) Ashley and Courtney were about that age. (Another daughter) Brittany was about that when she climbed into her Top Fuel car; that goes for Austin Prock, as well. He's got a solid record of handing out seats, although it took John giving Prock that ride originally to lure his dad Jimmy back to John Force Racing.
JB Says: Let’s face it, young folks in their teens and 20s just aren’t as in love with car culture as their parents and grandparents were. And even if they are, it’s usually for drifting, not racing. The biggest problem is the NHRA is too expensive for most young folks to participate in. My belief is that NHRA should cut back to maybe a 16- or 18-race schedule for its pro ranks, significantly cutting down costs/expenses. It should also increase purses for classes such as Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, and Pro Modified, essentially the farm systems for Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock. I’d love to hear what you readers would suggest, as well. How do we save the NHRA?
F1 Italian GP Winner Max Verstappen Chasing History with 11th Win of the Season
Readers Say:
Laurence Human: Max will set a new record. Count on it.
JB Says: I couldn’t have said it better, Laurence. I think he not only breaks the record but tacks on two or three more in addition to put it well out of reach of anyone anytime soon. But what’s even more daunting is Mad Max is only 24 years old (he turns 25 Sept. 30). He hasn’t even come close to hitting his stride. I can easily see him winning six, seven, maybe eight more F1 championships. He’s sooo good that rumors are already flying Lewis Hamilton will be retiring after the 2024 season. Barring any unforeseen circumstance such as injury, Max will be the man to beat for probably the next decade-plus. That is a scary thought!
Jimmie Johnson Mulls Options after First Full Campaign in IndyCar
Readers Say:
Ken Bagentose: He should run the ovals, and they can put a young driver in for the road courses. Jimmie REALLY struggles on the road courses, and those performances are tarnishing his image.
JB Says: While part of me agrees with you, Ken, Chip Ganassi isn’t running a charity, either. He’s in the business of winning races and championships. Jimmie hasn’t come close to doing either since he began racing in IndyCar. Plus, he turns 47 on Sept. 17. I give him one more full-time year in IndyCar, unless sponsorship becomes an issue. He might be happier—and be more successful—if he shifts to the shorter schedule and less costly racing in IMSA, with maybe occasional IndyCar starts like in the Indianapolis 500 and maybe the Long Beach Grand Prix. I’m sure Chip would be glad to accommodate him.
IndyCar Finale Qualifying: Will Power Passes Mario Andretti for All-Time Pole Record
Readers Say:
@justbob: I always love it when sports of all kinds put on this charade. I just do not believe that any sports figure is excited about another sports figure taking a record away from them. Yes, they put on a smile and behave graciously. But I will never believe that any sports figure is happy to lose a record they held to another. I could be wrong. But it just doesn't seem like human nature. Especially when it comes to competitive sports. The look on Mario's face while Will was making that qualifying lap said that, as well. Again, maybe it's just me.
JB Says: I agree with you to a point, Bob. NO ATHLETE likes to see a record they’ve established be taken by someone else, especially a record that has stood for nearly 30 years. But at the same time, the individual whose record is broken knows the hard work, effort, frustration, and exhilaration that is all wrapped up in achieving a record. So while Mario Andretti may lament (which I don’t believe) that Will Power broke his record for pole positions, knowing Mario like I do, I think he genuinely is happy for Will and said something like, “That’s a job well done, mate!”
Maybe the NTT IndyCar Series Just Needs an Old-Fashioned Villain
Readers Say:
@PaulTracy: I’m tellin ya ... it ain’t that easy, but Hélio is 100% correct. But it’s no fun sometimes getting boos.
JB Says: Even though he never responded to my original email seeking his insight (hint, hint, Paul!), it was still an honor that Paul stopped by to give us his thoughts, as he is typically the “villain” that others are measured by. Current drivers in IndyCar that are natural villains, in my opinion, are Romain Grosjean (he proved that several times with all the run-ins he had with opponents and even teammates this season), Conor Daly, maybe Pato O’Ward, and, yes, even Mr. Handsome/Pretty Boy Josef Newgarden. They all have what it takes to be the modern-day Paul Tracy. What do you think, readers? Am I missing anyone?
