Ed Hinton

  (2:04 PM)

Hi, all.Confidential to Yar8pack, if you're here today. Someone used your screen name to leave a pretty crummy personal remark about Kurt Busch, our guest driver for a chat today.You're a level-headed guy, so this had to be an impostor. Don't worry, though, I reported the violation.

RAYGORDONREID ( NASHUA NH 03060)

QUESTION TO ED HINTON AT 2.25PM HI ED WHO DO YOU HAVE AT LOUDON SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Ed Hinton

  (2:05 PM)

I'm thinking maybe a duel between Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon -- which the summer race might have been, had not Zippy made a great strategy call to get Logano the win.

Mark (Iowa)

Ed,I asked this question yesterday and didn't get a response, so I'll ask you....Would Kevin Manion be a good fit for crew chief for Dale Jr? It seems when they worked part time in the Nationwide series it panned out pretty well.

Ed Hinton

  (2:07 PM)

Maybe, but that was settled a long time ago. It was decreed within DEI that Manion, Truex and the whole crew would move up from Nationwide to Cup as a group.So it just wasn't in the cards.But I don't think Junior's issues are nearly as simple as one crew chief.

Darrell (MS)

Good Afternoon Ed. I and the rest of the anti-Kyle nation had been waiting for Saturday night for a long time. It was our moment in the sun where we could watch him get out of the 18 and make a fool of himself. But there was just one problem Ed, he did not do it!! He let us down. Good for him though, I think he his finally starting to get it. I think the vickers incident was the turning point.

Ed Hinton

  (2:08 PM)

Well, I think the turning point came on the roller coaster Bristol weekend, and this was just confirmation that his public demeanor has changed.

Michael (Texas)

With Kyle out of the chase it feels like the season is already over. Do you get that sense in the press room?

Ed Hinton

  (2:09 PM)

No, not at all. See, I always look for the interesting stories of the moment. If Kyle's out, so be it. We're on to Mark Martin, a possible JJ four-peat, Stewart, etc.

Casey (Los Angeles CA)

Hello Mr. Hinton, I have never been to a Nascar race and have not watched it much so I am going to give it a try. I am going to Fontana in October. I am bringing my son. Your thoughts?

Ed Hinton

  (2:11 PM)

Hmmmm. Well, Fontana doesn't lend itself to the most competitive NASCAR racing. They tend to get strung out. So don't form a full impression of NASCAR from there.But if you've never been, the engine noise and the speed will be nothing like you've seen on TV, so it should be fun.

jay (pa)

ed, if there were a chase back in the day, would dale and richard still have 7 titles?b/c if there wasn't a chase, Gordon would have 6 already.

Ed Hinton

  (2:12 PM)

Probably not, in either case. Petty couldn't have had those runaway years. And some seasons, such as '87, Earnhardt front-loaded the season with a lot of wins early.

Tek (Madison)

Hey Ed. What's your favorite Ryan Newman moment?

Ed Hinton

  (2:14 PM)

Not a lot of mirthful "moments" with an engineer. But back that year he was winning so much, I razzed him at Rockingham about "just sitting there grinning" at a press conference.He said, "Nothin' wrong with grinnin' if you're winnin'."Maybe he studied some liberal arts poetry at Purdue, huh?

Mojo (Houston)

Gotta agree with todays story. Johnson winning a 4th straight would be major accomplishment. Who knew Jeff would get his 8th title as a car owner rather than a driver.Johnson may not be as spicy as Kyle, or as loved as Junior - but he does his talking on the track. It shows in the garage, the respct he's given.

Ed Hinton

  (2:15 PM)

I think more and more people are coming around to realizing that just because JJ is soft-spoken and polite doesn't mean he's not a huge, driving force of NASCAR as it is today.

Shawn (Gastonia, NC)

As a Kyle Busch fan, I find it ironic when I look for someone to cheer for in the chase, it always seems like the best option is Mark Martin in the 5 (Kyle's old ride). Everyone else just seems boring. What do you think?

Ed Hinton

  (2:16 PM)

Oh, I don't think everyone who made the chase is boring. It's just that Kyle is much less boring than most.

Justin (Northern Virginia)

Hey Ed, how many drivers actually get along with each other in the garage and how many just pretend to get along? Prime example Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch being in the media center after the night race at Phoenix.

Ed Hinton

  (2:17 PM)

They really do make their best attempts to get along, even after there have been flareups. Cale Yarborough told me a long time ago -- and he had his share of run-ins -- that you simply can't survive, being cooped up in the same garage area week after week, without getting along at least on the surface.

Andy (Englewood, Oh )

If Danica comes over to drive some Nationwide races, who could give better chance at success, KHI or JRM.

Ed Hinton

  (2:18 PM)

I think KHI, although both companies are in fact run by women who would make sure she's treated fairly: DeLana Harvick, and Kelley Earnhardt.

mook (HOTlanta)

ed, i just asked kurt what he feels about running a retro black and gold miller paint scheme.now i know u dont care for paint schemes but u gotta have alittle bit of feelings for that classic scheme. NO?

Ed Hinton

  (2:18 PM)

Ehhhhh!

jay (pa)

ed what is up my man? whats the old school guys in this sport feel about kyle busch and his 4 wins not contending for a title?

Ed Hinton

  (2:20 PM)

I'm not positive I'm for a "if you win, you're in" lock, but I do think multiple wins should lock you in. Four certainly should, especially when you're tied for most in the season. What if Mark hadn't made it? Then you'd have had the two biggest winners of the year on the outside looking in.

e (ma)

i saw this on another website, why dont vickers and jr fans get along?

Ed Hinton

  (2:21 PM)

Didn't know they didn't. How can you tell, with Vickers' numbers so much smaller than Junior's?That would make for a very uneven parking lot brawl.

Ethan (COOLRADO)

hey ed i have a quesrtion about the chase do you see Kasey Kahne as a championship with the races in the chase except Talledega

Ed Hinton

  (2:22 PM)

Considering there are five intermediate tracks in the Chase, and intermediates are where he's best, I'd say he's got a decent shot at at least contending.

Matt (Chicago)

Ed, you hit the nail on the head in your column today about Martin winning the championship. There isn't a person in this sport with a heart--regardless their affiliation--that wouldn't love to see that.

Ed Hinton

  (2:23 PM)

Yeah, I'll say again that the outpouring on the pit road might just be bigger than the one for Earnhardt Sr. when he finally won the Daytona 500 in '98.

Eric (Indy)

Since the news of Danica's possible venture into Nascar broke two weeks ago, the reaction of IRL fans has been as expected, most of them are just brushing her off and saying, "we don't need her......our ratings stink without her". Ed, why are fans so stupid? Do they remember how non-existant the IRL has been pre-Danica?

Ed Hinton

  (2:24 PM)

Well, she's not leaving Indy cars anytime soon. Probably 2011 or 12 at the earliest.But when she does go, they're not going to have much if any of a league left to talk about.

Sean (Virginia)

More and more people seem to be jumping on the "win and you're in" bandwagon for the Chase (assuming they're in the Top 20)...what will it take for NASCAR to make that change (or something that puts more weight on wins?), or are we stuck with this like we are with the BCS?

Ed Hinton

  (2:25 PM)

BCS is a good comparison. Sports moguls sure can be stubborn. I think in NASCAR, first would come something like I mentioned a few minutes ago: multiple wins and you're in.

Dan (WI)

Ed, in your opinion, what is wrong with the 17 team? Is Drew just not ready to be a cup crew chief? In Kenseth slipping? Is it all on the COT? Is it all on Jack Roush? Will Roush please, please let Reiser out of the job he doesn't want and give him the one he does, which is back on the 17 box! I can't help but think that there would be no way Roush would take the CC that won a cup with Carl, and through him into a job he doesn't want. Then, make Carl go through multiple years of inconsistency during his prime driving years like he has made Matt. Being a 17 fan has been very frustrating the last few years!!!

Ed Hinton

  (2:27 PM)

I'm going to stir up a hornet's nest in Wisconsin, but I think the only common denominator over the years has been Matt's inexplicable negative attitude going into the Chase. Just about every year he's come in saying he doesn't have much of a shot.Did you hear him Saturday night? Saying he wouldn't have done well in the chase even if he'd made it.Somehow I think Matt is just not satisfied unless he's winning races regularly.

Fred(al) [via mobile]

Mr. Hinton do you think brad .k will drive the 12 or drive a fourth penske car towards the end of the year

Ed Hinton

  (2:28 PM)

Probably a fourth car, because they're probably contracted to run Stremme the rest of the races in the 12.

Richie Mikemond (French Island, Wi.)

Ed, I have enjoyed your work since the Tribune Company days so I know you have followed all types of racing. Why doesn't Castrol use John and Ashley Force more in there TV ad campaign? He a better sponsor honk than Michael W. and she's easy on the eyes and actually wins. That has to be be better than some dope whipping unsuspecting dudes at a bowling alley. And by the way I hope the Kyle bashers are happy, the last three weeks he' been as boring as Reed Sorenson [no offense to Reed.] People complain about vanilla but don't want chocalate. Please Ed, you and Robin keep stirring things up while I sleep thru the Chase.

Ed Hinton

  (2:29 PM)

I hear you. I think John Force is one of the funniest people on the planet, and should have his own HBO comedy special once a month.But alas, I think the advertisers consider NHRA and NASCAR very different markets. NHRA has always been a younger, perhaps a littler wilder demographic.

Nino (Clarkston, MI)

Who is your sleeper to take the spotlight from the chasers and win? Besides Kyle Busch.

Ed Hinton

  (2:31 PM)

Oooh, that's a tough one. But considering the way Harvick ran at Atlanta, and that there are five intermediate tracks in the Chase, maybe he could be the sleeper.

Jake (Irving texas)

Highpoint and low point of the season so far?

Ed Hinton

  (2:32 PM)

High point was when Martin locked into the Chase, guaranteeing Baby Boomers some drama throughout the playoffs.Low point was when Kyle Busch didn't make it -- and I'm speaking for the overall good of NASCAR. Tell me that, for sheer pizzazz, he wouldn't have livened things up a lot more than Vickers.

Buzzmaster

  (2:48 PM)

Hi folks! Ed lost his internet connection but should be joining us again here shortly! Hang tight!

Buzzmaster

  (2:51 PM)

Sorry, folks. Ed is experiencing technical difficulties so his chat will have to be cut short. Please be sure to check back next Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET to chat again with Ed!