Jr

[harvey lee]

The big question is, as poorly as Jr has ran this season, will he make the top 12?

Not looking for Jr is no good and all the normal stuff.

Just asking, will he make it?

[HOF#13]

As of right now I'd have to say no. Now, if he start to string together top 10's like he did yesterday, then he can. The only problem there is, he has not been able to do that for 2 years. I keep hoping for a Jr. resurgance, but am not holding my breath.

[candiru]

I think he lost the "fire in his belly" or whatever you want to call it.

[Sifty]

I think he will do fine.

I think if he can get some good finish under his belt and dump the bad luck he will make the chase.

Sifty

[SledNeck]

The law of averages would say that he should have won a race by now

[SkunkedAgain]

I don't pretend to know what's happening in his personal or racing life that has caused him to change, but he's a changed man. Until he gets back that "fire in his belly" he won't be in the top 12 of anything, except for maybe a list of the Top 12 With Potential That Flamed Out Too Quick.

[lawdog]

No chance. For reasons that are completely lost on me, the guy runs the majority of races in the mid 20's place wise and you can't gain ground and pass top fifteen teams to get into the top 12 running 23rd...

[harvey lee]

Didn't have to bad of a run again. Just missed the top 10 and moved up to 13th in points.

Looks like JJ was on his game. Too bad for Ambrose mistake as he had it won.

[HOF#13]

Agreed...With an 11th place finish for Jr. on a road course, I would think he would take that. They have a little 2 race momentum on their side right now, hopefully they can continue to build off of it.

[harvey lee]

Another good race for Jr. With his last 2 pit stops, he lost 6 positions. Just think if his pit crew would have been a bit quicker.

All season long, if one looks at the spots gained or lost during his pit stops, Jr averages about 7 lost positions during pit stops.

Man, that has to change.

Anyways, looks like Jr may now be in 12th after 3 solid weeks and getting better.

Go Jr.

[HOF#13]

I thought that this was going to be a pretty important race for him this week, and it looked like he delivered. I don't want to jinx it, but it looks like they are continuing to get better (driver / crew chief / car). I did not see the race, but from what you said it looks like it was the pit crew who laid down yesterday. Frustrating.

[harvey lee]

Yes, the pit crew cost Jr a few position if he could have held them.

Jr had a pretty good race yesterday and the changes to the car overall worked well.

[harvey lee]

Another week later and now a 4th. Thats 4 straight weeks he has run pretty good.

The winds maybe blowing in the right direction know.

[gregg52]

harvey did you listen to him last night

he just survived the the wrecks

he sounded pretty disappointed to me

i dont think that team is all on the same page

[harvey lee]

NO I did not see the race as we were at a race track where my son was racing.

He may have not had a great race but, a fourth is a fourth for points. He could have had a bad day and got a 20th.

All I am saying is that in the last 4 weeks from road coure races to Daytona, his finishes have gotten much better.

Typically a racer will say it was not the best if they did not win the race.

[LMITOUT]

he just survived the the wrecks

Welcome to the world of restrictor plate racing.

[gregg52]

well ya thats true

but that was a little more than ussual

my point was if you listen to JR after the race he very disappointed in his team

I 'll bet you see some changes on that team including a crew chief change soon

maybe this week after that statement

[LMITOUT]

No chance. They've climbed back into the Chase and they'd never do a CC swap now.

I think the disappointment comes from the idea that his car is typically a front runner at Daytona and it wasn't that good this weekend.

[harvey lee]

well ya thats true

but that was a little more than ussual

my point was if you listen to JR after the race he very disappointed in his team

I 'll bet you see some changes on that team including a crew chief change soon

maybe this week after that statement

I watch his crew very closely and I have noticed that typically, Jr losses about 2-3 positions every time he pits.

If he wants to make the chase, that has to get better and very fast.

[HOF#13]

No way they are making a crew chief now. The last 4 races all 11th place or better...This team is building momentum and getting better.

I watched to race on Hotpass and listened to all Jr.'s in-car audio. The frustration was that they used their Daytona 500 set-up and it was the wrong set-up to use for this race. The front springs were too soft so the car really banged hard on the bump-stops going through the corners. Just couldn't get it to handle real good.

[gregg52]

as i said who make those calls as to put those springs in

i doubt much its JR

He said his crew just didnt do a good job

his words

[LMITOUT]

The 88 team was horrible last night. Time for a new crew chief!!!!!

LOL

[harvey lee]

With Jr finishing 23rd, that,s in the middle and I would call that average.

Now, Jr is 13th in points and that,s way above average.

I'm a little lost of how that is horrible?

[gregg52]

the whole hendricks org is a tick off

jr beand the 5 being the worst

the other 2 are contenders

i dont think a crew change would hurt jr

[harvey lee]

Jr could use a crew change. Watch how poorly his crew does in regards to time during a pit stop. Jr almost always loses positions during a stop.