MWR in the News
Jess
There were two news items involving MWR that came to pass this week, neither one of which made me particularly happy. First it was announced that Bobby Kennedy is now Michael's crew chief while Paul Andrews is taking over the testing program. I don't agree with this move at all and I'm really disappointed that Michael doesn't have enough patience to last more than five races with the guy who got him into the top 35. 
I don't know what Michael wants anymore...every crew chief he gets it's the same old thing: "We really get each other, we'll work great and I look forward to the races!" and then on the radio it's frustration, screaming, cursing and a general lack of communication! For a period last season Bobby was Michael's crew chief and although he did make his first race in a while and got those two top 10s, he still missed races and ran badly. I don't expect a 180 in Michael's performace or his attitude just because Bobby is calling the shots...somehow I think it runs a lot deeper than chemistry. Michael is very stubborn. I don't think he likes these new cars and since Tony Jr. he's been so picky about what he wants in a crew chief.
I imagine it doesn't help Michael's mood too much that in the meantime David gets along with every crew chief he's paired with and runs well. And it seems to me that David often gets paired with the "lesser" crew chiefs while Michael gets the more experienced or well-known crew chiefs. On TWiN last week Michael made a remark that interested me about Ryan Pemberton and the fact that he didn't think as much of him when he hired him as he does now. Huh? What? Ryan is a very talented crew chief and was when he was with Mark Martin, too, so I don't understand how Michael didn't know that. But it also worries me. Michael, naturally, took Paul because Paul is the big name - does he think big name equals instant success? Now he realizes that Ryan is a great crew chief...I certainly hope that doesn't mean a future switch that puts Ryan on the #55 team. That...I don't want to even think about that.
In other news, I was hoping that David would be able to keep the owner points he'd earned so far, but that's not going to happen.
Apparently NASCAR turned down MWR's request and I have two opposite feelings about it. The objective side of me understands and agrees with NASCAR not wanting teams to swap points in the middle of the season because it would definitely be abused along with the Past Cahmp's Provisional. It's potentially saving MWR in a way because Sam Hornish, Jamie McMurray and Kyle Petty are all drivers with teams that could switch points with a past champion teammate to guarantee himself in the race (in the case one of the MWR cars falls out).
But the biased side of me is pissed because now David is in a hole he didn't create and doesn't deserve. He should be 109 points from 36th, not freaking 15. Fifteen! I'm not happy about it at all because at a place like Martinsville you're often at the mercy of your fellow drivers so he could be taken out by something not of his own doing. I guess I'm trying to not be too upset about it yet because I know if anyone can fly up the points it's David and his team and if things go well I truly believe he'll eventually pass Michael McDowell in owner points - they are that good. They are a top 15 team at least. But I can't help but fear the worst. If they fall out...and if they miss a race...I'm going to lose it.
To McD's credit during an interview today he's very thankful for the points that David earned and says that it's his job to keep them up there.
David didn't look as happy and his choice of the word "aggravated" in the above article doesn't sound very happy, either. Which doesn't make me happy. To top it off, Darrell didn't sound happy - he was referring more to the actual number switch because he feels like David should have kept his #00, which I agree with. He also said that David really wanted to keep his number too...not something he ever said outright publically but an impression I got from some of his interviews. Hmm. That's four "not happies".
I don't know...it's been a distressing week for me as an MWR fan. Now there's even more drama going on with this stolen Roush Racing part and of course MWR is rumored as the Toyota team Roush is accusing. There are so many articles coming out with so much different information that if you don't know anything about it you can search for it yourself, but it doesn't make me feel good. I think Roush is a fool for crying about an important part being stolen since his team apparently didn't do a very good job keeping an eye on this part, but if MWR did in fact steal it I don't like that just as much. After Daytona last year I'd think they'd know better, but maybe not. I hope it wasn't MWR.
I don't know what Michael wants anymore...every crew chief he gets it's the same old thing: "We really get each other, we'll work great and I look forward to the races!" and then on the radio it's frustration, screaming, cursing and a general lack of communication! For a period last season Bobby was Michael's crew chief and although he did make his first race in a while and got those two top 10s, he still missed races and ran badly. I don't expect a 180 in Michael's performace or his attitude just because Bobby is calling the shots...somehow I think it runs a lot deeper than chemistry. Michael is very stubborn. I don't think he likes these new cars and since Tony Jr. he's been so picky about what he wants in a crew chief.I imagine it doesn't help Michael's mood too much that in the meantime David gets along with every crew chief he's paired with and runs well. And it seems to me that David often gets paired with the "lesser" crew chiefs while Michael gets the more experienced or well-known crew chiefs. On TWiN last week Michael made a remark that interested me about Ryan Pemberton and the fact that he didn't think as much of him when he hired him as he does now. Huh? What? Ryan is a very talented crew chief and was when he was with Mark Martin, too, so I don't understand how Michael didn't know that. But it also worries me. Michael, naturally, took Paul because Paul is the big name - does he think big name equals instant success? Now he realizes that Ryan is a great crew chief...I certainly hope that doesn't mean a future switch that puts Ryan on the #55 team. That...I don't want to even think about that.
In other news, I was hoping that David would be able to keep the owner points he'd earned so far, but that's not going to happen.
Apparently NASCAR turned down MWR's request and I have two opposite feelings about it. The objective side of me understands and agrees with NASCAR not wanting teams to swap points in the middle of the season because it would definitely be abused along with the Past Cahmp's Provisional. It's potentially saving MWR in a way because Sam Hornish, Jamie McMurray and Kyle Petty are all drivers with teams that could switch points with a past champion teammate to guarantee himself in the race (in the case one of the MWR cars falls out).But the biased side of me is pissed because now David is in a hole he didn't create and doesn't deserve. He should be 109 points from 36th, not freaking 15. Fifteen! I'm not happy about it at all because at a place like Martinsville you're often at the mercy of your fellow drivers so he could be taken out by something not of his own doing. I guess I'm trying to not be too upset about it yet because I know if anyone can fly up the points it's David and his team and if things go well I truly believe he'll eventually pass Michael McDowell in owner points - they are that good. They are a top 15 team at least. But I can't help but fear the worst. If they fall out...and if they miss a race...I'm going to lose it.
To McD's credit during an interview today he's very thankful for the points that David earned and says that it's his job to keep them up there.
David didn't look as happy and his choice of the word "aggravated" in the above article doesn't sound very happy, either. Which doesn't make me happy. To top it off, Darrell didn't sound happy - he was referring more to the actual number switch because he feels like David should have kept his #00, which I agree with. He also said that David really wanted to keep his number too...not something he ever said outright publically but an impression I got from some of his interviews. Hmm. That's four "not happies".
I don't know...it's been a distressing week for me as an MWR fan. Now there's even more drama going on with this stolen Roush Racing part and of course MWR is rumored as the Toyota team Roush is accusing. There are so many articles coming out with so much different information that if you don't know anything about it you can search for it yourself, but it doesn't make me feel good. I think Roush is a fool for crying about an important part being stolen since his team apparently didn't do a very good job keeping an eye on this part, but if MWR did in fact steal it I don't like that just as much. After Daytona last year I'd think they'd know better, but maybe not. I hope it wasn't MWR.
