Ryan McGee

  (2:04 PM)

What's up folks?

Ryan McGee

  (2:05 PM)

Welcome to the Internet's biggest Monday afternoon motorsports block party. How about a round of applause for Mike Wallace. Whenever I see him all I can think about is that baby blue Helig-Meyers T-bird.

Dave (New Rochelle)

How surprised were you when you heard about Jeremy Mayfield? Do you think Nascar is actually going to come out and say what he failed? I don't think they did that in the past with Hmeil.

Ryan McGee

  (2:07 PM)

Dave, I was totally crushed to be honest with you. I had just talked to Jeremy on Tuesday for my "NASCAR should race in the dirt" piece, as it turns out he'd already failed the test at Richmond and just didn't know it yet.

Ryan McGee

  (2:09 PM)

The truth about what happened - more specifically what he took - will come out eventually. NASCAR doesn't make those specifics public under its policy, but that doesn't really matter, we reporters will find it out. And you are right about Hmiel and the others. The substances were not made public, but were dug up by the media.

Bobby (Houston)

Dude your internet block party sucks!!!!!

Ryan McGee

  (2:10 PM)

And yet here you still are...

Larry (MI)

Do you know if Jeremy is going to try and get another driver in the #41 or are they closing shop?

Ryan McGee

  (2:13 PM)

The plan is find another driver. Just after the suspension was announced at Darlington I asked NASCAR officials if he could transfer ownership to his wife or to team manager/crew chief Tony Furr and they said yes. But Jeremy himself can't be in the car or even around the car at a NASCAR track.

Ryan McGee

  (2:14 PM)

You'd have to believe though that the team's future can't be too bright. The entire operation is built around Jeremy Mayfield as a likeable five-time race winner. That's certainly not the case anymore.

Race fan

Hey McGee, great party your hosting. I went to INDY last Saturday, man it was cold! After winning the pole, is Helio still your favorite?

Ryan McGee

  (2:15 PM)

Thanks RF for off-setting Bobby from Houston's complaining about the party!

Ryan McGee

  (2:15 PM)

I heard it was cold up there. Darlington was hotter than forty hells, so I guess somewhere between SC and IN the weather was perfect!

Ryan McGee

  (2:16 PM)

And yes, Helio is still the favorite. He's out to prove something and that should be scary for the other 32 cars!

Andy Panama Beach, FL

This kills me to ask this but please be honest in your opinion... Do you think he did it or even if it is a combo like he said can his career be saved..

Ryan McGee

  (2:19 PM)

1. Unfortunately Andy we have seen pro athletes toss those kinds of excuses out before and I honestly can't remember anyone being able to prove it, 2. If he can prove it he might win back some of his peers, but judging from the initial reaction I got when I asked some of the other drivers about it on Saturday night, I think the damage may be fixable.

Laura, Texas! [via mobile]

This party doesn't suck! Even Matt Kenseth shows up every week, so it must be good!

Ryan McGee

  (2:19 PM)

There you go! Next week maybe I'll get a DJ and a disco ball!

Ryan Briscoe

Don't count me out either Ryan.

Ryan McGee

  (2:21 PM)

10-4. Cool name by the way.

Jon DeMent (St. Cloud MN

I know no one connected with ESPN or Nascar will EVER answer this question, but I'll keep asking anyway... It's All-Star time, and every crew member get's introduced... each and every one of the 400 a white male. For all Nascar's ballyhooed driver diversity program, would it really be so hard for Joe Gibbs or maybe even Randy Moss to find a Virginia Tech or Florida State linebacker he could trust to carry a gas can or a jack????

Ryan McGee

  (2:22 PM)

Jon, this is a great question and one I do not have an answer for. I did a story a couple of years ago about all the former college football players on pit road and I ended up walking away with the same question.

Ryan McGee

  (2:24 PM)

The good news is that I think there are finally some real, serious programs being put into play to recruit minorities into the sport, and the target of those programs won't be the cockpit as much as it will be front offices, mechanics, and yes, pit road. I for one am all for it.

Ryan McGee

  (2:25 PM)

Sadly I think it will take one of these programs not officially affiliated with the league to get it done because the Drive For Diversity program has never been able to get into a higher gear.

dirk (minn)

i dont think its a matter of race... either you like racing or you dont..

Ryan McGee

  (2:26 PM)

Agreed Dirk. And judging from the difference in the grandstands over what I was seeing 15 years ago more and more races are getting on board. It just takes time and people have to be patient. And I suck at being patient.

Fred (Dover)

I propose a stuffing of the ballot box for Morgan Shepherd to get into the All-Star Race.

Ryan McGee

  (2:27 PM)

Count me in Fred. And if he gets in we should have him roller skate to Conway Twitty's "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans" on like he used to before all the Martinsville races.

Sean (Philadelphia)

Hi, Ryan. My question has to do with the whole Kentucky trying to get a cup race thing. If they do get one from Atlanta which has been speculated, would it be possible to move the Kentucky race to this past weekend and move the Labor Day date back to Darlington? I think the tracks are owned by two different owners but I think it'll work out great for all parties. What do you think?

Ryan McGee

  (2:30 PM)

I like it Sean, a lot. But for whatever reason NASCAR seems bound and determined to keep Labor Day somewhere other than Darlington. Even league VP Jim Hunter, who used to be track president at Darlington and loves that place more than anyone not named David Pearson, told me that the chances of Labor Day coming back to the Lady In Black are "slim to none".

Ryan McGee

  (2:30 PM)

When I see him at Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend I will tell him your idea.

Larry (MI)

Hey Ryan, I just saw that JJ Yeley is replacing Jeremy in the #41.

Ryan McGee

  (2:32 PM)

That would be a great move. Not only is J.J. better behind the wheel at this stage of their careers than Jeremy, but there is no more likeable guy in the sport. That would be a nice zig when life seems to be zagging.

Ryan McGee

  (2:32 PM)

I would also be on the phone with Patrick Carpentier. Why that guy isn't getting more opportunites totally dumbfounds me.

Bob Talledega AL

Why are all the driver's siding with Nascar on the JM Drug issue..

Ryan McGee

  (2:34 PM)

Yo Bob...unless they've all changed their minds since Saturday night they aren't. They were all shocked and more than a little angry about when news broke just before the green flag on Saturday evening.

Ryan McGee

  (2:35 PM)

The only people who have a more strict zero tolerance stance than the league are the guys in those cars. Kevin Harvick went off. He said that you have totally trust the people racing side by side with you at 190 mph. He's right.

PJ (Cary, NC)

Man Ryan, way to steal my thunder with the Carpentier to the 41 idea. Anyways, with the All-Star Race coming up I think it needs a change to add some excitement. What do you think about running the race at North Wilkesboro (which does need a lot of work) or Rockingham. No testing, just show up with your piece and run for $1 million.

Ryan McGee

  (2:37 PM)

I hit send on my comment and then your Carpentier suggestion popped up in the inbox...great minds, right? I would be all for that, but it'll never happen. I was up at Wilkesboro a few weeks ago and that place is damn near inoperable now. It is literally falling apart. As for The Rock, all it needs is a SAFER soft wall barrier and it'd be good to go.

Ryan McGee

  (2:38 PM)

By the way, shameless plug time here...keep an eye on ESPN The Magazine during June. I have a big story coming about Rockingham that covers this very idea.

Matt Kenseth (Concord) [via mobile]

Hey Ryan, we did pretty well although we finished in 10th

Ryan McGee

  (2:38 PM)

Dude, welcome back...and that was a impressivley hard fought 10th.

Matt Kenseth (Concord) [via mobile]

Where do you predict me to finish over the next 5 races... it meas alot to me...

Ryan McGee

  (2:41 PM)

Yeah, it's huger than huge. In this week's Power Rankings (which as of 2:30 hadn't been posted yet, what's up with that?) I toss out my theory on you guys. You're either totally lost or you're about to go off. I say its B...and I think you'll get in gear at Dover, You are always stout there.

Woody (Denver)

Oh Ryan? By the way, Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On was Johnny Lee. ;-)

Ryan McGee

  (2:43 PM)

Really? I could have sworn it was Conway. And one other guy just said it was Mel McDaniel. I think Sammy Kershaw covered a few years ago, too. Either way, I'll be downloading it after this chat because now I can't get it out of my head.

derrick (g'berg iowa)

Whats up with the tire issue at Indy? Any head way being made?

Ryan McGee

  (2:44 PM)

Derrick, I've got bad news...and our boy Matt Kenseth is the one who told us all this last week.

Ryan McGee

  (2:45 PM)

They have made if little progress on the Indy tire front...that's if the numbers from the last test there a couple of weeks ago mean aything. Now they can't touch the track for four weeks because of the Indy 500.

Ryan McGee

  (2:45 PM)

This is exactly why I have always said that the league should have their own in-house test team.

Ryan McGee

  (2:46 PM)

They have a fleet of CoT's and haulers sitting at the Research and Development Center in Concord and Brett Bodine is on the payroll.

Ryan McGee

  (2:47 PM)

Take Brett, Buddy Baker, Dave Marcis, Randy Lajoie, Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte...however many retired drivers as you can find and take them to Indy and run laps for two straight weeks if that's what it takes to figure it out.

Clay (Charlotte)

Hey man, I need some advice. Who's going to have the most entertaining in-car radio conversations Saturday? Last year, Smoke was talking about how ugly the walls were.

Ryan McGee

  (2:49 PM)

Smoke is always good. Kenseth is fun just because his spotter Mike Calinoff is a riot. Kyle Busch and his spotter/business manager Jeff Dickerson are always entertaining. And even though they continue to run like crap, Dale Junior's chatter is always fun,

Ryan McGee

  (2:49 PM)

Speaking of which, where's the usual deluge of Dale Junior questions?

harley tx [via mobile]

how long before we see some changes for jr

james eau claire wi [via mobile]

what is wrong with jr?

Tim (Neosho,MO) [via mobile]

So whats up with Jr.? This weekend was how many races that he has messed up his pit stop by running through it? At this rate he is going to need a bigger stall before it's all said and done!

T-berry

What's up with Junior this year. I'm a big fan. Last year he started strong winning the Duel and Shoot out. What's different this year?

Ryan McGee

  (2:50 PM)

Oh wait, there they are...

Ryan McGee

  (2:52 PM)

I do think changes are coming, maybe not on top of the pit box (aka Tony Eury Jr), but within the team. Historically we don't see those things happen until after the Coke 600...so stay tuned.

Bob (Oakdayle (Tenn))

i think the problem is Dale Jr. not the other Jr.

Ryan McGee

  (2:52 PM)

Bob, you were once in the minority, but now you are in the increasing majority. he can't keep missing pit boxes. It's unreal.

john (nc)

i've asked the same question 2 times today and it hasn't made it up!!! just wondering if you had heard of any changes coming... he isn't as bad as he's been running lately. Surely, Rick is going to do something.... i'm a huge fan.. but he's embarrassing(sp) lately

Ryan McGee

  (2:54 PM)

Sorry John...but so far I've gotten 342 questions since 2 pm and about 200 of them have been the same one! I appreciate everyone logging on!

Clay (Charlotte)

Kyle vs. MM in a cage match...who ya got? Youth or Experiance?

Ryan McGee

  (2:54 PM)

Not even close. Mark would turn him into a soft pretzel.

Larry (MI)

Think Bill Elliot will be able to break the track record at Dega this Wednesday?

Ryan McGee

  (2:58 PM)

I hope so. I wish I could be there. I just hope he doesn't launch himself into space.

Ed, Houston

Doesn't that Hendrick 1-7 sweep at Darlington make a mockery of Nascar's 4 team rule?

Ryan McGee

  (3:00 PM)

Yes it does. And if they add another Stewart-Haas car or move a JR Motorsports car up to Cup next year to make room for Brad Keselowski, it'll look even worse. Which is why I think it's time to start thinking about franchising like they have in other sports...maybe...I feel differently about that from week to week.

Ryan McGee

  (3:01 PM)

Alright folks...look for Logano to win the fan vote this weekend, for Jimmie Johnson to win the All-Star race (with Jeff Burton as a sleeper) and for Kyle Busch to get into a fight with someone.

Ryan McGee

  (3:03 PM)

Thanks as always for stopping by, be sure to tip your wait staff and enjoy Conway Twitty...or is it Mel McDaniel...or Johnny Lee? Either way, he Morgan Shepherd take us out with "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On"!

Ryan McGee

  (3:04 PM)

And just say no to drugs everybody...especially if you know they're conducting random drug tests at the track every weekend!