ESPN

Ryan McGee

  (2:03 PM)

Hello my desert dust-covered brothers and sisters and welcome back to the worldwide interweb's biggest and baddest one-hour Monday afternoon motorsports block party. I have Van Halen's "Women and Children" first on the tune box and I'm ready to talk racing!

Keith (Phoenix)

A growing conspiracy theory amongst IRL fans I've been hearing since you and Marty broke your story on Wednesday about Danica is that Nascar put the Danica rumor out there to deflect the issues of the Talladega race, true or false?

Ryan McGee

  (2:06 PM)

Um...no. It was a source of mine that kickstarted the whole thing on Wednesday and they certainly had nothing to benefit from any of that. Nor did they have any reason to try and help NASCAR in their post-Talladega funk. (Though they probably could have handled all of that a little better, huh?) What IRL fans should be happy about is that she has been adamant about keeping her Indy Car ride no matter what...for two years at least.

JTF (Bayonne, NJ)

Ryan, as a gamer and a NASCAR fan, I'm upset about EA's decision to not put out a full-scale NASCAR game for the foreseeable future after doing so for over 10 years. Do the drivers, or NASCAR itself have any concern about this decision?

Ryan McGee

  (2:08 PM)

There is certainly some dissapointment about it all, but the fact of the matter is that not a lot of people were buying it. When I worked at NASCAR Media Group we used to produce a preseason "making of" special that ran on ESPN and SPEED and even that didn't move the needle on sales. The good news is that there are some NASCAR options on the new Gran Turismo game, right?

Bubba (Atlanta)

In your opinion, are The Busch Brothers the greatest 2 brothers to ever race in Nascar?

Ryan McGee

  (2:10 PM)

Nope. That honor goes to Bobby and Terry Labonte, the only bros to both win the Cup. For second it'd have to be the Allisons, then the Busch boys. But as soon as Kyle wins his Cup (which he will) then they move to #1.

Andrew (DC)

Do you think with Dave Rogers mistake yesterday Coach and JD will assign a more experienced crew chief to Kyle like Zippy?

Ryan McGee

  (2:11 PM)

Nope, they aren't going to make a change after just one race. But Dave might want to start watching his back...Shrub turned on Steve Addington pretty quick, didn't he?

Tonya (Jacksonville)

We were just devasated with what happened to Kyle at Texas. Do you think Kyle can bring his #18 team back from this tragedy?

Ryan McGee

  (2:12 PM)

They'll be fine. They dominated and then lost on fuel mileage. And they certainly weren't the only team to run out of gas. "Tragedy" might be a bit strong. He still had one of the greatest weekends that anyone's ever had.

Ty (Fremont, CA)

How depressing ia it that everytime Junior runs well, he finishes bad Ryan? I can't take the bad luck he's having. I know he'll come good right out of the box next year!

Ryan McGee

  (2:13 PM)

There are certainly signs that the battleship is being turned around. If nothing else, everyone looks visibly relieved to have the crew chief speculation put to bed.

dz (phx, az)

hey ryan! i was surprised to hear knaus call it quits after the crash. although the led has shrunk but i still think the 48 camp is going to win a 4th title. your thoughts?

Ryan McGee

  (2:15 PM)

Call it quits on what? The championship? The race? What I heard was a very calm crew chief walking his team through what to do to get it fixed. It's amazing that they finished as high as they did. Yes, I think it's still his to lose. And he won't. But it is surely more interesting than it was two days ago isn't it!

Frank (Phil.)

Will Kyle be going for the Phoenix Trifecta this weekend?

Ryan McGee

  (2:15 PM)

Yes. And so will Kevin Harvick.

Jim (Yonder)

All the talk is about how Brad K. will end-up back with Hendrick in a few years...what if he stinks it up with Penske? What if his numbers don't look any different than Stremme or Hornish?

Ryan McGee

  (2:17 PM)

Love Yonder. Yeah, we'll see about all of that. With Danica coming into the fold, there isn't going to be much room for him. Have you noticed that Mr. H has always had a smooth way of escorting rumored malcontents out of the building and making them think it's for their own good? Kyle...Vickers...Brad K...just saying.

Irv (Chicago)

Do you think Brad is in for a very steep learning curve at Penske?

Ryan McGee

  (2:19 PM)

Yes. He was in for a steep learning curve no matter where he ended up. Keep in mind, he's only made 15 Cup starts in his life. The first full season starts feeling mighty long.

terrylee vaughn (ware shoals,sc)

so whos your top 5 at phoenix this week. and do u think jimmie will bounce back from the wreck and win this sunday

Ryan McGee

  (2:20 PM)

Yes, JJ will bounce back big time. I say 5, 48, 11, 14, 2...and darkhorses will be 31 and 29.

Jason (ETN)

Is Jr's team the old 25 team? If so, evidence of a curse gets stronger every week.

Ryan McGee

  (2:21 PM)

Yes...and yes.

Rich (Buffalo)

Did you just call Brad K a malcontent? C'MON MAN!

Sara (Orlando)

What do you mean that Brad K was a "rumored malcontent" ? I thought he just wanted a cup ride? Was their a problem?

Ryan McGee

  (2:22 PM)

I said "rumored malcontent". I like him. A lot. But even the biggest BK fan in the world has to be willing to admit that he has a love/hate relationship with fans and the garage. People either love him or hate him.

JTF (Bayonne, NJ)

Gran Turismo 5 did pick up the NASCAR franchise. They've got Daytona and Indy and have had Infineon. It looks tremendous, but we'll need to see how well it works on a game where they've never had more than 6 cars on track at a time.

Ryan McGee

  (2:23 PM)

Thanks for the update. Hey, that's something. And there's always iRacing, which is what most of the drivers use now at home.

Keith (Phoenix)

Agreed on Danica always saying she wants to remain in Indycar, although I think it was more to do with wanting to take another 2-3 shots at winning the 500 and making sure she can succeed in Nascar than it does wanting to stick with a series that's becoming F1-lite with all the road/street courses.

Ryan McGee

  (2:26 PM)

I'm with you Keith. When the league was founded I was out there covering it all the time for the late, great "RPM2Night". Their mission then was to be an oval-based series with the goal of helping overlooked American racers find rides. I still like the folks in that league a lot, but that mission seems to have been lost in the sands of time. And they are losing Danica because of it...well, that and she can make a cargo ship full of cash in one season of NASCAR.

dz (phx, az)

i think phoenix and homestead fans should thank the 48 team for making the next two races exciting!!!!! i'll be in turn 4 at PIR cheering like crazy! go #48!

Ryan McGee

  (2:26 PM)

Rattlesnake Hill, baby!

Justin (NC)

Minus the fuel issue is Dave Rogers just that good, or would the car have run similarly if Addington was on the box? I was also suprised to see just how off the 20 NW car was without him.

Ryan McGee

  (2:28 PM)

I think the car would've been that good anyway. I think we won't really know what we have with Rogers until next year. That Texas car was prepared weeks ago on Addington's watch. But yes, Rogers is good. He's long been viewed as a future Cup crew chief superstar.

Bart (Los Angeles)

2 times during the Nationwide race Harvick was super sarcastic and negative about his own team. Do you think it was wrong for Harvick to berate his team so publicly?

Ryan McGee

  (2:28 PM)

Not if they know it's coming.

Keri (Alabama)

So how long do you think it will take Danica to rise to Nextel Cup?

Ryan McGee

  (2:29 PM)

The plan seems to be having her there in 2012 full-time. I suspect we'll see her in a Cup car as soon as one year from now.

Woody (Denver)

Ryan, as for people either loving or hating BK, that sounds an awful lot like a guy named Earnhardt.

Ryan McGee

  (2:30 PM)

Yep. And Wallace. And Waltrip. And Gordon.

Cody (Iowa)

I love how everyone (ESPN included) wants to make Jimmie's points loss yesterday a HUGE deal. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this still the biggest points lead going into the last two races since the chase started?

Ryan McGee

  (2:34 PM)

Yes. But it's also 111 points smaller than it was going in. That happens again he's lost the title. The complaints about the ESPN TV guys making too big of a deal about Jimmie's wreck yesterday totally baffle me. What the hell else were they supposed to talk about? It was easily the biggest story of the day, arguably in any sport, and it should have calmed all the complaints from Jimmie Haters about him making the season so boring.

Brad K (Rumbling and Grumbling)

Malcontent? I'm no malcontent! Watch it McGee or I'll put you in the wall! What do you mean Vegas as me back in Arca cars in five years?!

Ryan McGee

  (2:34 PM)

Alright...here come the Brad Keselowski haters.

Mark (NJ)

Do you think that Penske might be second guessing his decision to sign Brad K after Pops Eury said his driver is the worst driver he's ever seen on re-starts?

Lester (PA)

We really respect Tony Sr because of his work with Dale Sr so whe he calls Brad "the worst driver he's ever seen on re-starts" we listen to Pops! Your opinion?

Juan Carlos (Houston)

Brad K sure stunk up the show at Texas and the legendary Pops Eury called him the worst driver he's ever seen on re-starts. Do you think Penske made a huge mistake signing Brad?

Jose (Miami)

Pops Eury called Brad the worst driver he's ever seen on re-starts during the Nationwide race. Do you agree with Pops?

Nathan (Upstate, NY)

Do you think Penske was aware of Pops Eury's opinion that "Brad is the worst driver he's ever seen on re-starts"?

Ryan McGee

  (2:38 PM)

Pops is a shrewd individual. He wasn't sending a message to Penske. He was sending a message to Brad. As in, "Dude, you have to get better at this or you are going to get your helmet handed to you in Cup next year." And no, I don't think Penske made a mistake hiring him. Dude can wheel. He just needs to reel it in a little. In my opinion, that's what Pops was saying.

Evan Johnson (Salt Lake City )

In your mind how many points does Mark have to make up in Phoenix to have a realistic shot at Homestead? 50? More? Less?

Ryan McGee

  (2:39 PM)

50 is the number that I've had in my head. I think he needs to be within 25 headed to Homestead to have real shot. Even then he'll need some help.

Bill S. (High Point, NC)

It looks as if Rowdy has a firm grip on 13th in the standings, is there some kind of award they give for the top non chaser, or did that die when they went to 12 cars?

Ryan McGee

  (2:40 PM)

Hi Bill. Yes, there is a bonus for 13th, they round up his Sprint bonus check to $1 million, and he has the option to come to Vegas if he wants to. Kyle is from there, so I'm thinking he'll show up.

Liz (San Dimas)

Where did Denny get his information that Gordon influenced Nascar decision makers on the bump drafting rule at Dega?

Ryan McGee

  (2:41 PM)

Gordon admitted it during his weekly meeting with the media. He wasn't the only one, but he's the only one who has stepped up and admitted it.

Craig (San Jose, CA)

Thanks for noting on twitter yesterday how Gordon and Junior team members we're helping the 48 crew fix the car. A true testament to Mr H. These are guys trying to beat JJ on the track (24 guys), and they're helping out. Some people wonder why that organization is so successful! I think it's obvious!

Ryan McGee

  (2:43 PM)

Yes, they did title their new documentary "Together" after all! (It is a great film, by the way, even if you don't care for Hendrick Motorsports, on DVD now.) Interesting debate on the radio and on message boards since then. Some fans thought it was cool. Others though it represented a huge conflict of interests.

Jeremy (Port Angeles, Washington)

When should we know when Danica signs with Jr Motorsports will be announced.

Ryan McGee

  (2:44 PM)

The deal will be done in the next two weeks. But don't expect an announcement until we get to Vegas for the Banquet.

Eric (Columbus, Ohio)

If Pops thinks Brad stinks on restarts, just wait 'till he sees Danica's restarts.

Ryan McGee

  (2:44 PM)

Oof.

Tracy H (dingerworld) (Wyo)

Ryan, you and I both underestimated AJ and the 44 team this week with our 20th place estimates. Does he back up his top 10 from this week at Phoenix and Homestead? How have the Fords fared at those two tracks historically?

Ryan McGee

  (2:47 PM)

Yes, I think that the cool retro Petty Enterprises paint scheme was what pushed him into the top 10! His chances of picking up another over the next two weeks are pretty good. He finished 11th at Homestead one year ago. As for the Fords, they have owned Homestead, winning five in a row and six of the last seven. They used to own Phoenix, but not anymore. Chevy has won eight straight.

Rob (Charlotte)

As huge a hit as Jimmie took yesterday with his points like to Mark Martin, just imagine where it would be if that Newman wreck doesn't happen at Talladega a week ago?

Ryan McGee

  (2:48 PM)

No doubt. If Mark doesn't end up on his roof at 'Dega he might be the points leader.

JOe (Fl)

Who has the better 2010 season in order, Mcmurray in the #1, Sadler or Vickers?

Ryan McGee

  (2:49 PM)

Vickers, McMurray, Sadler.

Craig (San Jose, CA)

Don't the same guys work on both the 24 and 48 cars in the shop. I thought I once heard that you don't know what car you are working on until you show up to work. It's just the over-the-wall guys that are married an actual car. It didn't matter if the 88 guys were there. I don't think I saw any 5 guys...so it actually wouldn't be a conflict of interest. Would it?

Ryan McGee

  (2:52 PM)

The guys who build the cars and engines or handle research and development have no idea which team they are building them for. Once they are delivered to the shops - one houses 48/24 , the other 88/5 - those pairs of teams work side-by-side, but they certainly know which car belongs to which team. Once they get to the track it is every team for itself...sort of. They share practice data and, as we learned yesterday, help in emergencies.

Martin (LA)

Denny said he expects to win 5-6 cup races in 2010. Assuming Kyle also wins 5 or 6, who else will put up those kinds of numbers?

Ryan McGee

  (2:52 PM)

Jimmie. Tony. Dale Junior?

Mike (Atlanta)

Something is telling me Jimmie's bad luck is not going to be limited to Texas. Things like this happen in waves (look at Denny Hamlin). I smell a flat tire at Phoenix this week

Ryan McGee

  (2:52 PM)

We'll see. The suits down in Daytona would never admit it, but they are hoping you are right.

Robert (PA)

What will happen to those 200-250 Petty employees that lose their jobs because of the Petty-Yates merger?

Ryan McGee

  (2:54 PM)

The same thing that's happened to the other nearly 2,000 race team employees that have been laid off since last summer. They're job hunting. The good news is that Humpy Wheeler is helping them find new gigs. I wrote about it earlier this year: http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/columns/story?columnist=mcgee_ryanandid=3825258

dz (phx, az)

repsonse to Martin (LA): ryan, are you wishing dale wins that many races? or are you just hating too?

Ryan McGee

  (2:56 PM)

I just want to see him win again because he's always been a good guy and I hate to see him so depressed. He was so down at Charlotte it made me want to give him a hug.

Robert (PA)

Isn't Stewart and Dale jr kinda on the old side to be winning 5 or 6 races in a season?

Ryan McGee

  (2:58 PM)

Are you kidding? Dale Senior, Harry Gant, Bobby Allison...they all won races into their 50's. If you're good, you're good. Have you already forgotten about Mark Martin?!

Marcus (Houston)

Robin Miller gives Dale jr 100-1 odds of ever winning another Nascar race. Do you agree?

Ryan McGee

  (2:59 PM)

Hard to believe that such a sunny-side-up guy like Robin would say that! Just kidding. Love RM. No, those are too high. He'll win again. Sooner than later.

Woody (Denver)

Whatever happened to the 9 yesterday?

Ryan McGee

  (2:59 PM)

Ran out of fuel, finished 33rd.

Ryan McGee

  (3:01 PM)

Alright folks, the bell just rung and I gotta go. Check out my new blog today about the most surprising crew chief moves of all time and I'll see you on NASCAR Now this Wednesday night. As always, tip your waitstaff and enjoy the music of Eddie Miles.