Terry Blount

  (2:02 PM)

Hello everyone. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. It's banquet week in NY for th Cup stars. What's on your mind?

justin(durham nc)

riggs for 09...where do u think he lands....im hoping the 41......if nto that harvicks truck team.....but where do u see him 41. or where...thanks

Terry Blount

  (2:04 PM)

Still no word on Riggs. But here's the deal. These teams don't know how many cars they will have becasue they don't have the sponsorship needed. Thta's the hold-up. The 41 has Target, but one of the DEI drivers who doesn't have a sponsor could end up in that ride.

Joseph (Ponca City, OK)

Who made the Chase this year that's going to be out of it next year?

Terry Blount

  (2:06 PM)

It's strictly a wild guess at this point, but I would say Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart and maybe Clint Bowyer.

Jimmie (NYC)

Can anyone keep me from making it four in a row?

Terry Blount

  (2:08 PM)

Well fake Jimmie, you probably have an excellent chance of doing it, Maybe as high as 50/50. But Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch and maybe Jeff Burton could stop you.

TG

Any news on who won the most popular driver award?

Terry Blount

  (2:08 PM)

No, but it will be Dale Jr. unless something truly shocking happens.

Buzz -- Pompano Beach

How long will I get to see the season-ender be at Homestead?

Terry Blount

  (2:09 PM)

For the next fews years more than likely. I would like to see it move to Vegas, but that's not on the immediate horizon.

KK (Sacto)

I have a $5,000 travel budget (for two), live in Sacramaneto and want to see four good races in 2009. Where do I go?

Terry Blount

  (2:10 PM)

Unless you plan on sleeping in a tent and traveling by bicycle, you can't do four races for two people on 5 grand.

Griff (Oregon)

What's the matter with Kasey Kahne and will that team get it sorted out on 2009?

Terry Blount

  (2:11 PM)

If they knew the answer to that they would fix it. But the new Dodge could improve things.

Jeff (MD)

Do you think they need to modify the point standings for Chase drivers? If they dont, Johnson might win 5 more championships!

Terry Blount

  (2:12 PM)

I don't think they need to change to keep Johnson from winning. But I'd like to see them do some form of what F1 is doing next year. The guy with the most wins takes the championship.

Wanda (Fort Worth, Texas)

Throw out David Ragan, who gets your vote as most improved driver of 2008 and why?

Terry Blount

  (2:14 PM)

Allmendinger, hands down,. He entered Cup in a sink-or-swin mode as a rookie in 2007, but showed dramatic improvement in the second half of the 2008 season.

KK (Sacto)

OK then, one big blowout on 5k. I wantto wine and dine for three days, then hit the track.

Terry Blount

  (2:15 PM)

Vegas would be my first choice. Very cool infield area with the Neon Garage, not to mention the Strip in 15 miles away.

Ben (Baton Rouge, LA)

Can you tell us a little bit about the people that will be working with Tony on the 14 team? Will they mesh well together? At which tracks will they be the most competitive?

Terry Blount

  (2:16 PM)

The team probably will do well early at the short tracks because those events put more in the hands of th driver. They probably will struggle early on the 1.5-mile ovals.

Jimmie (NYC)

Is my new teammate Mark Martin going to be better in 2009 than my other two teammates, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.?

Terry Blount

  (2:17 PM)

Good question fake JJ. Mark will do well, but I'd be surprised if he ended the year ahead of Jr. and Jeff.

Julie, Watauga Texas

Question by newt last week was which driver you would take if you could start a team today. Choices are JJ, Edwards and Kyle. Which one and why?

Terry Blount

  (2:18 PM)

I'd take Carl. Sponsors love him, he drives with passion and determination and he best days are ahead of him.

Jeff (NYC, becaue I live here)

Am I stuck on four championships? I mean seriously, could I really have peaked?

Terry Blount

  (2:21 PM)

Lots of fakers today. But yes, it's possible Jeff's better days are behind him. I hope not. As I said last week, he's one of the best guys I've ever met in almost 30 years of covering sports. But I'm not sure a fifth championship in on the horizon.

Ricky (Cowtown)

what kind of car count are we going to see next season? Daytona will be fine, but what happens on that West Coast swing?

Terry Blount

  (2:22 PM)

I think we'll still see 43 cars at most, if not all, Cup events. But we may have several races where no one has to worry about failing to qualify.

Kim (Denver)

1) Are we ever going to get a track out here or not. 2) If you had to put money on one driver in an IROC race, who would it be?

Terry Blount

  (2:23 PM)

ISC would love to build a track in the Denver area. Bt it's all about the money. ISC wants tons of public funding to build a new speedway. That ain't happening in this economy. If I had to bet on one guys in an IROC race, I'd go with Tony Stewart.

Jeff (MD)

How bout eliminate the lowest point total Chase driver each week til the last week and the 3 final drivers go all out, highest finisher wins!

Terry Blount

  (2:24 PM)

I'm all for it. Would love to see a true elimination. But it's not gonna happen anytime soon.

Julie, Watauga

How firm are the NACAR commitments from the four automakers in it right now? Dodge looks kinda shaky.

Terry Blount

  (2:26 PM)

It's all shaky at the moment. The U.S manufacturers have far bigger things to worry about at the moment, like begging Congress for $25 billion. No one is leaving in 09, but 2010 remains iffy.

Kim (Denver)

Let's talk Joey Logano. Was what he did this year indicative of what we should expect next year, or just a blip.

Terry Blount

  (2:29 PM)

No indication at all. He raced a couple of times in the 96, which is one of the worst cars out there. Joey has a lot to learn, but he has all the tools and he'll get there quickly. I expect he will finish in the top 20 in the standings and maybe compete for a victory or two.

Jeff (MD)

If NASCAR stopped going to tracks twice a year, and were only making exceptions for 4 tracks, which would you prefer? I go Bristol, Richmond, Daytona, Vegas.

Terry Blount

  (2:33 PM)

Good question. Daytona and Bristol for sure. Talladega would get high consideration. The problem is there aren't enough quality tracks to race only four speedways with two events.

Ricky (Cowtown)

Do you see any other manufactureers getting into NASCAR in the next five years. Honda's name is always out there.

Terry Blount

  (2:34 PM)

There is talk that Honda might step in if one of the US manufacturers got out, but I don't see it. It's a gigantic investment to make at a time when the global economy is struggling.

tom* (parkville, md)

Jamie McMurray had a nice run toward the end of the season. Was it a blip, or has he finally gotten it together?

Terry Blount

  (2:35 PM)

They defintely hit on something, but I wonder how switching crew chiefs will affect it.

Kim (Denver)

So what's the worst part of Friday's banquet?

Terry Blount

  (2:36 PM)

Listening to the drivers drone on in a monoione. reading the prompter to mention all the sponsor names.

Joe (Seattle)

Hi Terry. If you were Santa, what would you put under Kasey Kahne's Christmas tree?

Terry Blount

  (2:38 PM)

More horsepower from the new and improved Dodge engine. And a little livelier personality from Santa's magic wand would be nice also.

John (Charlotte, NC)

How about some IndyCar talk. Will Dario be a force in 2009 or does he need to get his feet wet again?

Terry Blount

  (2:39 PM)

I expect Dario to step right in and take up where he left off. I think he'll win some races.

Doug (Jacksonville, Fla.)

So who is the next Joey Logano, or is the yout pipeline closed in this economy?

Terry Blount

  (2:41 PM)

I don't see a Joey Logano out there at te moment, but there are some youngsters with a bright future. Colin Braun is one that stands out.

Nick Rolando

Usually I ask Nascar questions, but do you think Fernando Alonso can win his third drivers championship next year?

Terry Blount

  (2:42 PM)

I doubt it, especially if he title is based on wins. I think Hamilton can make it two in a row.

Wanda (Fort Worth, Texas)

Would less money in the sport maybe lead to better racing? Or are we just going to see the big teams dominate even more?

Terry Blount

  (2:43 PM)

Theoretically, yes. But no matter how cheap it gets, some teams will have more money that others and have an advantage.

Mark (Mount Airy,MD)

Hey Terry, Iowa makes its Nationwide debut next season. How do you think the event will do and how long before a possible move to the Cup series?????

Terry Blount

  (2:44 PM)

I love that track. It makes for some good racing, but I don't see Cup going there in the near future.The market size doesn't help.

VA

Hamlin makes the chase he has equipment that is just to good not to at least make the Chase. I dont think Logano makes it but that is more because he is a rookie.

Terry Blount

  (2:45 PM)

You could be right, but a few drivers with great equipment won't make the top 12. next year.

Rick (Pa)

Terry - Bored today so I got KK to Atlanta, Darlington, Richmond and Talladega for $6208 including plane, hotel, tickets, and rental car. KK could get there for 5500 with any real effort. Now for my question: With no testing allowed and no changes to the car, will Stewart-Haas and Yates really be a second garage location for Hendrick and Roush?

Terry Blount

  (2:50 PM)

Not exactly, but these "partnerships" certainly violate the spirit of the four-car rule. As for the four races for $6200 for two people, I'd have to see it to believe it Maybe if they only stayed Saturday night, but good luck finding that anywhere near Dega.

Larry (MI)

Who has the better Cup Career, Logano or Keselowski?

Terry Blount

  (2:51 PM)

Logano, but Brad should do well.

Mark (Mount Airy,MD)

Terry, will Dodge be in the Truck series next season?????

Terry Blount

  (2:53 PM)

Dodge won't offer any manufacturer support in the truck series. Someoe still could use Dodge equipment without support.

Tom (cincinnati, OH)

Im not a big fan of the new f-1 rules of declaring a the champ. Problem with wins only can win a few and struggle poorly in the rest of the races. The best sytem combines wins and constantly.

Terry Blount

  (2:54 PM)

Winning is what it's all about for me. But I could go with a system that has three points for wins, two for seconf and one for third. Plus one for winning the pole

Brian (Alexandria, VA)

Who will be better next year Clint Bowyer, Matt Kenseth or Jeff Gordon?

Terry Blount

  (2:55 PM)

That's a tough one. For me it's between Gordon and Kenseth. My heart tells me Gordon, but my head tells me Kenseth.

Larry (MI)

Heard that National Guard is going to be an associate sponsor for Jeff Gordon. Is this going to affect their sponsorship of Dale Jr?

Terry Blount

  (2:55 PM)

Not at all.

Rick (Pa)

I will be driving from Pa to Bristol and Pa to Martinsville on consecutive weekends in March so I assumed a bit of a commute. I had hotel in Atlanta area for Talladega and Charlotte for Darlington. All 4 events had a 3 night stay.

Terry Blount

  (2:58 PM)

Gotcha, but the guy that asked about it lived in Cali.

Jason (Seattle)

In this economy we've been hearing about teams in peril, but what about tracks? Any that could potentially have to give up a date?

Terry Blount

  (2:59 PM)

The economy is hurting speedways as well. Attendance was down last year. But no one wants to give up a Cup date. Some track will when Kansas gets a second date in 2010.

Bobby (Bear, DE)

Martin Truex Jr. or Mark Martin?

Terry Blount

  (3:00 PM)

Nest year, Martin.

Larry (MI)

With some of the teams struggling with sponsorship is there anything Nascar can do to let companies like AT&T and Alltel back in.

Terry Blount

  (3:00 PM)

They should but they won't. Sprint has it in the contract to keep them out.

nicholas brown (south hill va)

dale jr sure is doing a little better

Terry Blount

  (3:01 PM)

A little better, yes. A lot better, no. Not yet anyway.

Terry Blount

  (3:02 PM)

I'm out folks. Really good questions today. Enjoy watching the banquet Friday night. Have a great week. Peace.