Terry Blount

  (2:01 PM)

What's going on folks? What's on your mind?

Jonathan (Birmingham, AL)

Terry, What's the wildest thing you've ever seen both on the race track and off the track at Dega?

Terry Blount

  (2:02 PM)

Off the track, I saw a guy who had his dog on the hood of his car inthe infield. One problem: The dog was stuffed. Long dead.

Steven (Ft. Worth, TX)

I saw a TV ad promoting Talladega as "the fastest track in NASCAR". I thought Texas held that award. Which one is it?

Terry Blount

  (2:03 PM)

It's Texas. Dega would be the fastest it they didn't use restrictor plates. The cars would make it around the place at more than 230 mph

TC of KY

Hey Terry, great article on Mark. So how much influence does JG have at HMS? What do you think his role will be after he is done driving?

Terry Blount

  (2:04 PM)

Jeff definitely has Rick's ear. Jeff was influential in bringing JJ to the team, along with Mark. But I don't think Jeff wants a full-time roll in racing after he retires. He has a lot of other things on his plate.

David Fuller (Marion, NY)

So why no penalty with Earnhardt and Mears?

Terry Blount

  (2:06 PM)

It goes back to last year with NASCAR saying they want to let boys be boys and not over legislate things. The problem here is they have given fines for this type of thing in the past, so it looks like they are favoring Jr. I don't think they are, but it looks bad from a PR standpoint.

Cody (Paragould, AR)

Do you see Nascar handing out Penalties to either Mears or Jr. for the incident Saturday night?

Terry Blount

  (2:06 PM)

They aren't going to penalize them.

Scott (Indy)

How many NASCAR drivers let out a HUGE sigh of relief when the Helio verdict was announced? How many other athletes?

TC

That's cool. I was thinking he might be great as like a general manager role or something like that. Maybe a figure head for the company.

Terry Blount

  (2:07 PM)

It would, but I htink Jeff has a future outside of racing.

Race fan USA

So Terry, bigger moment for Jr., winning the Daytona 500 or the 2001 Pepsi 400? Thanks.

Terry Blount

  (2:08 PM)

Both were big for different reasons, but I think he would say the Daytona 500.

Joe (Fleetwood PA)

Terry seems that Smoke is a big favorite going into Dega, he has only one win, but can the team ride the momentum in Victory, who else should be a contender

Terry Blount

  (2:10 PM)

All the Hendrick cars are contenders. Kyle Busch could win it. But weird things can happen there that might cause a surprise winner.

Rich, Clearwater, FL

TB...why don't more Cup drivers (especially the younger ones) drive the trucks? The truck is closer to the COT, than the N'wide car...

Terry Blount

  (2:11 PM)

Is a better questios. hy don't Cup drivers just drive Cup and leave the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series to the up-and-comers and the oldtimers.

Cr8on--Lugoff

Do you think their is pressure on Jr. now. I mean JJ, JG, and Martin have won.

Terry Blount

  (2:12 PM)

Huge pressure, that's not nothing new for him. he doesn't wanted to look like the Ugly Duckling of the group.

Thomas

So Terry, in your newest article Jr. quotes as saying he doesn't think Tony Jr. lets his ego go when trying to figure out what his teamates are doing. That doesn't sound very positive. Your spin?

Terry Blount

  (2:14 PM)

I think Junior meant Tony is willing to try new things and listen to his fellow crew chiefs. That' s good thing, but the results haven't shown up yet.

Luke, Gloucester, UK

Terry, Is it me or do you think Dale Jr. is an overrated driver?

Terry Blount

  (2:15 PM)

I really don't, as I said in my book. The man has 18 Cup wins. You dont do that on a fluke. He isn't the best driver in Cup, but he's better than most, Right now, he's in a major slump and needs somehting to change.

Ellis, NC

You think it would be a good idea to take jr's team and put it with JG or JJ team at the shop? Split them to teams up instead of being housed together?

Terry Blount

  (2:17 PM)

Don't fix what ain't broken and JJ and JG's guys working together is working to perfection. Add another car to the mix and it might mess things up. So you could hurt two cars to fix one.

Marion (SC)

Terry it sounded to me Kahne has a lot of uncertainty about his future i think this time next year kahne will be signed by another team what do you think.

Terry Blount

  (2:19 PM)

Kasey says he's staying through 2010 and the end of his deal, but those things can change. For example, say he signs with another team now for 2011. That forces RPM to let him go because they don't want a lame-duck driver. We'll see.

Brian

Why in the world would Kahne stay with RPM, No new Dodge engine, Not really competitive, alot of talent is going to waste, RPM can never recover from the loss of Ray.

Terry Blount

  (2:20 PM)

There is a new Dodge engine that runs well (as we've seen with Kurt Busch), but RPM hasn't started using it yet. However, in a few months, Dodge may be gone anyway, depending on what's happens with Chrysler.

Saul (San Diego)

Does Dega provide the most anxiety to drivers? Or is are there others? Does it even come to play in the drivers mind?

Terry Blount

  (2:21 PM)

You play it plays in their mind. They are running inches apart in big packs and almost 200 mph. One tiny mistake can cause a 20-car accident.

Rich (CA)

What are your thoughts on the 77's run this past weekend? I think he's really turning the corner....

Terry Blount

  (2:23 PM)

One race doesn't convince, but I'm happy for him. Sam might have thought he was going to race in the Indy 500 this year until Helio was acquitted.

Ken (Richmond, VA)

Jack Roush can say whatever he wants but isn't it obvious that the 26 is the team that will draw the short straw so to speak at the end of the season?

Terry Blount

  (2:25 PM)

Probably, but this could go down ina lot of different ways. Maybe somebody already at Roush becomes a "team owner." Maybe Jamie gets an offer to go somewhere else. Maybe Yates doesn't want Jamie.

taylor

kahne is there till 2010 so if mark stays with hendrick for another year and he leaves in 2 years and the kahne comes to hendrick

Terry Blount

  (2:26 PM)

Now that's really thinking ahead. But many things could happen between now and then.

Rich, Clearwater, FL

Is there any talk about making the COT a little less boxy while keeping the safety benefits?

Terry Blount

  (2:27 PM)

A lot of talk with the crew chiefs about allowing them to add downforce, but NASCAR remains totally against adjusting the car.

Saul (San Diego)

Current Standings: Martin at 13, then Biffle, Montoya, Harvick, Newman, Vickers and Earnhard at 19th. Who will make the chase with 18 races to go.

Terry Blount

  (2:27 PM)

Martin and Biffle.

Lindsay

Will Brad K wait as long as it takes to fill in a Hendrick seat?

Terry Blount

  (2:28 PM)

He doiesn't want to wait until 2011. Penske might try to grab him befroe that, and Junior could move his NW team to Cup and run Brad in that car.

paul (nc)

only 2 roush drivers, #99 and #17, above the chase cutoff, with the latter only being in it by a 9 point margin ahead of the momentum-fueled #5. any chance of recovery for the rfr boys?

Terry Blount

  (2:30 PM)

They will improve in the summer months, but they typically haven't run well at three of the next four tracks _ Dega, Richmond and Lowe's.

Clay (Charlotte)

Terry you are welcome to leave your air-conditioned press box when you come to Charlotte on May 16 and have a beer with the common folks. Care to make an All-Star prediction a little early?

Terry Blount

  (2:31 PM)

Thanks for the offer, but I won't be in Charlotte. I do the Indy 500 in May.

Sadler Fan (USA)

Is Elliot really racing or is he just waiting for the contract to expire?

Terry Blount

  (2:32 PM)

No one just waits for their contract to expire. That's a guaranteed way not to get one from someone else. The truth is returning to a team that tried to fire him never was a good idea.

Sam

Terry, who wins this weekend?

Terry Blount

  (2:33 PM)

I'll say Jeff Gordon.

Sam

Hey Terry, any early, early Indy 500 predictions?

Terry Blount

  (2:35 PM)

I need to see them run on oval track first, but I would love to see Tony Kanaan win it since he's been so close in the past. Marco would be a very popular winner, and he runs his best at Indy. And if DP wins it, the world will turn upside down with the hoopla.

Adam SC

If Dodge leaves will penske and RPM switch to other makes or will one of them fold can ford toyota or chevy afford pick one or the other up

Terry Blount

  (2:36 PM)

None of them are looking to add cars in this economy. My guess is Penske would run Toyota. Not sure about RPM.

devin whitmore lake michigan

duse sam hornst jr say in the top 35 for the whole year

Terry Blount

  (2:37 PM)

Probably, but top 35 alone isn't good enough to keep him from returning to Indy cars

Sam

Sounds good, what a story you would have if Helio to wins

Terry Blount

  (2:39 PM)

Wouldn't that be something. I was so happy for him last week. In 30 years of covering sports, Helio is one of the nicest guys I've ever met.

Sam

Considering that's who I had in mind, great pick. Especially in the retro DW pepsi challenger.

Terry Blount

  (2:39 PM)

Well, I probably just jinxed you.

Ben (Baton Rouge, LA)

Tony Kanaan will win the Indy 500 this year. Book it.

Terry Blount

  (2:40 PM)

OK Ben. I'll hold you to it.

Tom, Boston

Are there any current drivers out there, excluding Mark Martin, who you see driving at or after 50 years of age?

Terry Blount

  (2:41 PM)

Many are physically capable of doing it these days, but the question is will they want to do it? These guys make so much money now that they don't need to continue racing full-time in their 50s.

Steve (St. Anthony, MN)

Hello Who and why did they switch the time(s) for the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600? If Nascar, why would they do that? Don't they want more exposure for the possible 1-2 drivers who may want to race it?

Terry Blount

  (2:44 PM)

Indy switched to a later start time a few years ago. I wish one of them would race on Monday, Memorial Day.

John

Honestly, who is the best Hendrick plate racer?

Terry Blount

  (2:45 PM)

Junior is considerd a great plate racer, like his father. but it hasn't shown lately. I would say Gordon, but JJ ain't bad either.

Adam SC

Mark martin is a very classy driver honest and respectful is there young gun driver in the garage that reminds you of Martin

Terry Blount

  (2:47 PM)

Excellent question. Brian Vickers is a extremely polite and respectful young man. He's also incredibly bright, like Mark.

Ben Texas

Do you think we will ever see the Miller ginuine Draft Paint scheme on the #2 again. Maybe for the allstar race

Terry Blount

  (2:48 PM)

I'm sure they will bring it out every now and then.

Larry (MI)

What did you think of Robby's comments about how he is looking forward to a new driver in the 55?

Terry Blount

  (2:48 PM)

I think he needs to look in the mirror.

Jeff (Lafayette, LA)

How do the purse winnings work? Example, Kurt Busch placed 3rd and received $145K, while JJ placed 4th and received $167K.

Terry Blount

  (2:51 PM)

And MIT professor couldn't expain it. It's ridiculously complex because of bonus payments that come from various sponsors and team rankings.

Brian

I am a huge Jr. fan do not get me wrong but either Jr. isn't as good as we all thought or Eury Jr. isn't that good as a crew chief.. your thoughts?

Terry Blount

  (2:51 PM)

My thoughts are both men are solid competitors, but they need to work with other people.

Regend (Montana)

My buddy is thinking about streaking during a game, what would the possible consequences be?

Terry Blount

  (2:53 PM)

If he like sa night in jail and a big fine, he can embarrass himself at his leisure.

Ted

Terry, tell everyone Jr. is not his dad, never will be, and let the boy race!

Terry Blount

  (2:54 PM)

I wish I had a dollar for everty time I said. that. And no one else will ever be Dale Sr, either.

Marion SC

If Roush as a whole came out the box strong like last season do you think David Ragan would have won a couple races

Terry Blount

  (2:55 PM)

I expected but things for David this year. His season has been my biggest surprise on the down side of things.

Mike (IN)

terry, what drivers seem to follow other sports the closest?

Terry Blount

  (2:57 PM)

Jeff Burton loves Duke basketball, Carl Edwards is a big Mizzou fan for football and basketball. And Kenseth loves ther Packers. I think Ambrose is a big rugby fan.

Tom, Boston

I guess Jr. knows how Kyle Petty must have felt for all those years.

Terry Blount

  (2:58 PM)

Easy Tom. It's not that bad, not yet, anyway.

Devin (Johnson City TN)

Finish this statement, Dale Jrs crew chief next year will be....

Terry Blount

  (3:00 PM)

Ron Malec

Michael (Indy)

How impressed/surprised are you by the success of the Michael Waltrip cars so far this year?

Terry Blount

  (3:02 PM)

Ambrose is a much better driver than most people realize. Reutimann keeps getting better as his cars have improved. Steve Hallam has really helped MWR since coming over from F1.

Terry Blount

  (3:03 PM)

Gotta run folks. Off to do NASCAR Now. Brad Daugherty and I will discuss Martin, Junior, RCR and a few other things. Take care. Peace.