PERRY'S PERSPECTIVE:
Perry's Perspective: June 1, 2006
Stewart shoulders the load
If you’re looking for proof that auto racing is a team sport, you need look no further than this Sunday’s Neighborhood Excellence 400 at Dover International Speedway.
Defending Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart is going to rely on some help this week from his friends at Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart has a broken shoulder blade sustained at last Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600; he’s nonetheless expected to drive at Dover, but it will be veteran Ricky Rudd coming out of semi-retirement to qualify Stewart’s No. 20 Chevrolet. Rudd is also available to take over from Stewart mid-race if necessary – Stewart would still collect the car’s points in that scenario.
Rudd, who has yet to race this year, is familiar enough with Dover that Joe Gibbs Racing shouldn’t miss a beat. He’s won four times on the Delaware track, most recently in 1997 for his own Rudd Performance Motorsports team. Rudd also has 14 Top-5 finishes in 55 career races there. Although Toyota has been trying to coax Rudd back to full-time racing for its 2007 entry into the world of NASCAR, his return to the track this week is apparently not a sign of things to come – Rudd says he is happy to be off-duty.
Stewart, meanwhile, is happy to be racing at all. He apparently suffered his injury during Saturday’s crash on Lap 10 of the Busch series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which was followed by an even harder crash on Lap 33 at the Cup event. Fortunately for Stewart, he does not require surgery. He’s being treated instead by trainer Al Shuford, who used to work with the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. Stewart is also getting special treatment from the competition. “If Tony’s a little under the weather, he’s not feeling well, he’s driving the car at Dover, we all have to respect that fact… you’re going to race him like you race your teammate,” Greg Biffle told the Daytona Beach News Journal earlier this week.
Given its 24-degree banks and concrete racing surface, the “Monster Mile” is a punishing track that is sure to cause Stewart no end of discomfort. As well, Stewart hasn’t taken the checkered flag at Dover since winning both this event (then known as the MBNA Platinum 400) and the MNBA.com 400 back in 2000. Those circumstances are enough to leave the Indiana native in the middle of the futures pack at +1500 to come out victorious at Sunday’s race.
The favorite for the Neighborhood Excellence 400 is Jimmie Johnson at +600. Despite finishing in second place at the Coca-Cola 600, Johnson remains atop the NEXTEL Cup points standings, ahead of Matt Kenseth (+1000), Mark Martin (+900) and Stewart. Last week’s winner, Kasey Kahne, stands at +1000. Johnson has four victories in 2006 compared to three for the up-and-coming Kahne, but Johnson has been the model of consistency, grabbing eight Top-5 finishes. Kahne has five, leaving him sixth in the drivers standings.
Jamie McMurray will also be racing at Dover after crashing after just three laps at last Saturday’s Busch series race. McMurray hit the wall at roughly the same spot as Stewart, then was taken to hospital to test for head injuries. He was released and cleared for this Sunday, where he’ll be a +3000 long shot. Also facing difficult odds is Robby Gordon, unceremoniously lumped in with the field at +3000; he’ll be racing at Saturday’s Baja 500 off-road race in Mexico before competing in the Neighborhood Excellence 400.
One man getting longer odds despite his recent success at Dover is Ryan Newman at +2000. Newman won this week’s event in both 2003 and 2004; moreover, he crossed the finish line first at the 2003 Dover 400, completing the track double on his way to earning Driver of the Year honors. Things have been a little rough since then. Despite grabbing the pole position eight times, Newman recorded just one Cup win in 2005 – the Sylvania 300 in New Hampshire – and is currently mired in 22nd place in the drivers standings.
There is, however, hope for Newman supporters. The Purdue graduate finished in the Top 10 in three straight events before spinning out at the Coca-Cola 600 and placing 35th. Those results suggest that Team Penske may finally be getting its stock car house in order after nearly two years of frustration. That bodes well for volatile teammate Kurt Busch, who is otherwise overvalued at +1200 based in part on his 2004 Cup championship season with Roush Racing. Busch has a lone win at the Food City 500 after starting in the first 10 places on the grid 11 times in 14 races.
If you have any questions/suggestions, please email them to Michaelp@Betwwts.com.
Perry's Perspective: June 1, 2006
Stewart shoulders the load
If you’re looking for proof that auto racing is a team sport, you need look no further than this Sunday’s Neighborhood Excellence 400 at Dover International Speedway.
Defending Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart is going to rely on some help this week from his friends at Joe Gibbs Racing. Stewart has a broken shoulder blade sustained at last Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600; he’s nonetheless expected to drive at Dover, but it will be veteran Ricky Rudd coming out of semi-retirement to qualify Stewart’s No. 20 Chevrolet. Rudd is also available to take over from Stewart mid-race if necessary – Stewart would still collect the car’s points in that scenario.
Rudd, who has yet to race this year, is familiar enough with Dover that Joe Gibbs Racing shouldn’t miss a beat. He’s won four times on the Delaware track, most recently in 1997 for his own Rudd Performance Motorsports team. Rudd also has 14 Top-5 finishes in 55 career races there. Although Toyota has been trying to coax Rudd back to full-time racing for its 2007 entry into the world of NASCAR, his return to the track this week is apparently not a sign of things to come – Rudd says he is happy to be off-duty.
Stewart, meanwhile, is happy to be racing at all. He apparently suffered his injury during Saturday’s crash on Lap 10 of the Busch series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which was followed by an even harder crash on Lap 33 at the Cup event. Fortunately for Stewart, he does not require surgery. He’s being treated instead by trainer Al Shuford, who used to work with the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. Stewart is also getting special treatment from the competition. “If Tony’s a little under the weather, he’s not feeling well, he’s driving the car at Dover, we all have to respect that fact… you’re going to race him like you race your teammate,” Greg Biffle told the Daytona Beach News Journal earlier this week.
Given its 24-degree banks and concrete racing surface, the “Monster Mile” is a punishing track that is sure to cause Stewart no end of discomfort. As well, Stewart hasn’t taken the checkered flag at Dover since winning both this event (then known as the MBNA Platinum 400) and the MNBA.com 400 back in 2000. Those circumstances are enough to leave the Indiana native in the middle of the futures pack at +1500 to come out victorious at Sunday’s race.
The favorite for the Neighborhood Excellence 400 is Jimmie Johnson at +600. Despite finishing in second place at the Coca-Cola 600, Johnson remains atop the NEXTEL Cup points standings, ahead of Matt Kenseth (+1000), Mark Martin (+900) and Stewart. Last week’s winner, Kasey Kahne, stands at +1000. Johnson has four victories in 2006 compared to three for the up-and-coming Kahne, but Johnson has been the model of consistency, grabbing eight Top-5 finishes. Kahne has five, leaving him sixth in the drivers standings.
Jamie McMurray will also be racing at Dover after crashing after just three laps at last Saturday’s Busch series race. McMurray hit the wall at roughly the same spot as Stewart, then was taken to hospital to test for head injuries. He was released and cleared for this Sunday, where he’ll be a +3000 long shot. Also facing difficult odds is Robby Gordon, unceremoniously lumped in with the field at +3000; he’ll be racing at Saturday’s Baja 500 off-road race in Mexico before competing in the Neighborhood Excellence 400.
One man getting longer odds despite his recent success at Dover is Ryan Newman at +2000. Newman won this week’s event in both 2003 and 2004; moreover, he crossed the finish line first at the 2003 Dover 400, completing the track double on his way to earning Driver of the Year honors. Things have been a little rough since then. Despite grabbing the pole position eight times, Newman recorded just one Cup win in 2005 – the Sylvania 300 in New Hampshire – and is currently mired in 22nd place in the drivers standings.
There is, however, hope for Newman supporters. The Purdue graduate finished in the Top 10 in three straight events before spinning out at the Coca-Cola 600 and placing 35th. Those results suggest that Team Penske may finally be getting its stock car house in order after nearly two years of frustration. That bodes well for volatile teammate Kurt Busch, who is otherwise overvalued at +1200 based in part on his 2004 Cup championship season with Roush Racing. Busch has a lone win at the Food City 500 after starting in the first 10 places on the grid 11 times in 14 races.
If you have any questions/suggestions, please email them to Michaelp@Betwwts.com.