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Terry Blount

  (2:01 PM)

Hi everyone. Two to go in the Chase. One to go in the NHRA Countdown. What are your thoughts?

RAY GORDON REID ( SCOTTSDAle AZ 85231)

QUESTION TO TERRY BLOUNTAT 2.20PM HI TERRY WHO DO YOUHAVE SUNDAY AT PHOENIX

Terry Blount

  (2:03 PM)

Well, Ray, I'll give you one thing, you're consistent, although all caps is not required. So let's get this out of the way right off the bat. 1, Martin, 2, Johnson, 3, Harvick, 4, Kurt Busch, 5, Kyle Busch.

Jason (Cali)

Do you think we basically saw the 2010 Sprint Cup Chase preview at Texas with Kyle and Kurt dominanting?

Terry Blount

  (2:04 PM)

I think the Busch brothers will be in the hunt. But I wouldn't say they will be 1 and 2.

Scott (Manchester, NH)

I have got to say that you are correct about getting rid of the illusion of the 43 car full field. Get rid of Start and Park guys like Phil Parsons.

Terry Blount

  (2:05 PM)

It has become embarrassing. What's wrong with just starting 36 cars? Isn't it better to start 36 drivers who intend to race than 43 with seven that don't intend to race?

Donald (Miami)

I don't recall so many teams talking about preparing for next year like 2009. Has the #48 run-away with the Championship changed the strategy?

Terry Blount

  (2:07 PM)

No. Any team that feels it no longer has a chance to win the title this season should be preparing for next season at this point. Experiment with things and see what can help you for 2010.

Mike (CT)

Chances of a NASCAR app coming to the iPhone?

Terry Blount

  (2:08 PM)

No clue. I have a hard enough time figuring out all this phone stuff now.

Laurie (MD. )

With Mears, Reed , Jamie and so many other experienced cup drivers looking for work, won't we see even more Cup start and parkers in 2010?

Terry Blount

  (2:09 PM)

We could, but I hope not. They get a way with more in the NW series because fewer people are watching. If you had eight SandP cars every week in Cup, a lot of folks would complain.

Thomas (Little Rock)

Do you agree with Pops Eury calling Brad K "the worst driver he's ever seen on restarts" like he did Sat?

Terry Blount

  (2:10 PM)

Pops is just trying to push Brad's buttons and make sure he gets up on the whell for the restart. Just a motivation tactic by a wise old crew chief.

paul (albany ny)

Terry whats up.....in the interviews follwing jimmie's wreck, why does he blame the guys around him for the acident and not himself for basically makin it 3 wide coming out of turn 2 which has been know to have problems at texas?

Terry Blount

  (2:12 PM)

I hear ya, but JJ didn't know it would be 3-wide when he went outside Sam. David was behind them and barelt tagged Sam's car. But it is dangerous going wide out of Turn 2 at TMS.

Warren (Omaha)

Terry, who is your pick to win the championship? Also, where will the SandP 500 end the year? And, could you please give your answer in Spanish for the Montoya fans.

Terry Blount

  (2:14 PM)

Champion is Jimmie. In Spanish: Johnson es muy bueno piloto.

Miguel (Houston)

How many more chances will Kyle have to set the Nascar record of winning all 3 Nascar races on the same track on the same weekend?

Terry Blount

  (2:15 PM)

He may be trying it at the last two races, but I'm not sure about that.

Pam (MD)

What do you think Tony Stewart's chances are for winning the championship next year?

Terry Blount

  (2:16 PM)

Not bad, but he was racing better at the start of this season than he is now.

Miguel (Houston)

Why was Johnson so sarcastic about blaming Hornish for wrecking him out when clearly it was Reuitmann that ran into Sam?

Terry Blount

  (2:17 PM)

JJ didn't know that when he made those comments. When he was told about it he said: Well, than I may look like a (fool). Not actually that word, but you get the picture.

David (Washington DC)

Terry-Any idea on what happened with the 1 car during inspection? What was the issue and what kind of penalties are they looking at? I bet Martin can't wait for this year to be over...

Terry Blount

  (2:18 PM)

The car was too low. Penalty should come later today.

todd (ga)

Where is the love for JR you dont think he will be in the top 5 this weekend? His luck is bound to turn around sooner or later.

Terry Blount

  (2:19 PM)

I've been saying that for about 10 weeks and I'm still waiting.

Frank (Pa)

A lot has been said about the 24 and 88 team helping the 48 on Sunday. My understanding though is that HMS is different in org structure. You can have guys on the 48 actually being on the pit crew for the 24 on sunday. Is there too much being made of this issue?

Terry Blount

  (2:21 PM)

The pit crew guys are the same, but in the shop, those guys work on both the 24 and the 48 in the same shop. Often they don't know who will drive which car. But it was cool to see the 24 and 88 teams rally to help JJ. That's one reason why Hendrick is so good.

Roberto (Orlando )

Don't the stats prove that when a driver reaches 35-like Stewart, Little Dale, Gordon, Kensith-his chances of winning the championship drastically drop?

Terry Blount

  (2:22 PM)

Only if he never has won a title before. If you reach 35 without earning a Cup crown, odds are you won't get one.

A Fan (Somewhere)

Is Jimmie really allowed to say that he is a (fool) on TV? It seems like that wouldn't get past the censors if he weren't the champ. I've seen drivers penalized for foul language before, why not JJ? I think he should be docked 74 points.

Terry Blount

  (2:23 PM)

JJ wasn't on TV. He said that in the media center.

Richard (AK)

Looks like Mark Martin blows another opportunity to win a Sprint Cup. If 2009 wasn't Mark's best opportunity then why should we think 2010 will be any better?

Terry Blount

  (2:24 PM)

Because he'll have a full year under his belt at Hendrick with Gustafson. But Father Time has to catch up at some point.

Kyle Jackson (Corona, CA)

How cool would it be to see Dixon vs. Schumacher in the final round at Pomona battling it out for the championship? Who is your pick to win?

Terry Blount

  (2:26 PM)

That would be awesome. I think the world of Larry Dixon, but I'm picking Tony. He really wants to prove he can do this without Alan Johnson.

chase (So Dak)

You have martin beating johnson at pheonix this sunday, any chance johnson has another tough week and give martin another great opportunity to take the points lead?

Terry Blount

  (2:27 PM)

A chance yes. There's a chance lightning will strike twice. Likely? Uh, no.

Britney (OK)

Since it was Dave Rogers fault that the gas man didn't get enough fuel in Kyle's #18 on the last stop isn't it fair that Rogers had to answer to the media and not Kyle?

Terry Blount

  (2:28 PM)

No. Kyle needs to grow up and quit storming off like a child every time something goes wrong. Start acting like a professional. He should be glad they had a great car and Rogers gave him a great chance to win.

Mark (Florida)

Alot of people are giving Hornish a rough time for Sunday. But go back and review the tape, sports fans. It was actually David Reutimann that started the whole thing by bumping Hornish through the corner and getting him loose, causing him to slide up the hill. Add Jimmie Johnson to the list of people ol' Reuty has wrecked.

Terry Blount

  (2:29 PM)

Just one fot those racin deal, as they say. Turn 2 was a problem all weekend.

Mark (Florida)

Richard was kind of rough on Mark Martin. Are you telling me that Mark actually has some detractors? How could anybody dislike Mark Martin?

Terry Blount

  (2:31 PM)

As I've said before, NASCAR should name a sportsmanship award after Mark when he retires. If he ever retires, that is.

David (Washington DC)

Terry-Who do you think was to blame for the Montoya-Edwards incident? I'm a Montoya fan and thought he basically got loose and took Edwards out but both of them acknowledged it was because Edwards was too close.

Terry Blount

  (2:33 PM)

If all depends on how you look at it. JPM got loose when Carl got really close to him. Neither guy is mad about it.

chase (So Dak)

Mark Martin is to Nascar as Brett Favre is to NFL

Terry Blount

  (2:34 PM)

But Mark is 100 pounds lighter and doesn't have a scraggly beard.

Jamerson (Georgia)

Is it just me, or has the #24 team lost its edge? The Jeff Gordon of old would have made something happen on Sunday and really made a run to the front to capitalize on Jimmie's misfortune. That team seems to have lost all its magic.

Terry Blount

  (2:35 PM)

He admits they blew it. The car got worse as the race progressed.

Joan (Columbus, Ohio)

And Dale Jr is to Nascar what the Detroit Lions are to the NFL?

Terry Blount

  (2:36 PM)

You'd have to go a lot lower than Dale Jr. to find a driver that compares to the lowly Lions.

Jamerson (Georgia)

It seems like Alan Gustafson is showing his potential as a crew chief this year. Do you think he is as good as Chad Knaus?

Terry Blount

  (2:37 PM)

No one is as good as Chad Knaus, but AG is one of the best.

Marcus (VA)

That's wrong...I'm from Detroit. I am a fan of both Dale Jr and The Lions.

Terry Blount

  (2:38 PM)

So you're the one! Just kidding.

Mike (Atlanta)

Dare we say that Jr was actually on point calling out Reutimann a few weeks back? seems like whenever theres trouble the 00 (or 09/12) is always around it

Terry Blount

  (2:39 PM)

I don't think Jr. should call out anyone these days. David made a mistake Sunday. But he has raced pretty well this season.

Mark (Phoenix)

We were disappointed that Gibbs gave Rogers the #18 cc job. How come Gibbs didn't give Zippy the job or hire Knaus or Kyle's old cc Alan Gustufson to be Kyle' crew chief?

Terry Blount

  (2:40 PM)

You really think Knaus or AG wuld leave Hendrick for the 18 car with Kyle? Not a chance. And JGR didn't want to change two teams a once.

JTF (Bayonne, NJ)

If something bad happens to Mark at Phoenix and Jimmie locks up the Chase, we'll have all 3 championships locked up before Homestead. Won't the weekend down there just kind of feel... not quite boring, but not as interesting as previous years?

Terry Blount

  (2:42 PM)

You can say. It would be boring. Might as well sip Mojitos on South Beach all week. But it's highly unlikely JJ will clinch this weekend.

JTF (Bayonne, NJ)

What drivers in the Chase do you see not making it next year? And who do you think gets in instead?

Terry Blount

  (2:44 PM)

I expect the RCR guys to get back in the hunt next year, especially Bowyer. Vickers hasn't shown me in the Chade that he can continue to do the things he needs to do to get back in the Chase.

Andy (Dayton, Oh )

Any chance of an 2006-like resurgence from RCR and real Harvick back to the fold.

Terry Blount

  (2:45 PM)

RCR had three drivers in the top 10 at Texas, the only time they've done that this season. I think they are starting to figure things out.

Marcus (VA)

Saw your top 5 at Phoenix...Can I atleast get Dale Jr as a Dark Horse out of ya!?

Terry Blount

  (2:45 PM)

OK. Junior is a darkhorse candidate. Isn't that true every week?

Laura (Ft. Lee, NJ)

How much longer do you expect Jeff Gordon to race in cup?

Terry Blount

  (2:46 PM)

Four or five years at the most.

Bobby (San Antonio)

Kyle just can't win. If you talks media says he is a whinner and when Kyle's walks you call him immature. Exactly what does the media want from Kyle Busch?

Terry Blount

  (2:49 PM)

To be professional like other drivers. Jeff Gordon finished 13th and was furious after the race because he blew his opportunity to make up ground on JJ. But he didn't storm off. He answered questions before leaving.

ernie (baltimore md.)

do you think hms can fix dale jr.s team for next year?

Terry Blount

  (2:51 PM)

I have my doubts, but they have run up front a lot in the last few weeks. They just have to find a way to finish without having problems.

Jerry Meister (Columbia, MO)

Terry--If you could subtract two tracks out of the Chase and add two, what would they be? Would it be logistically possible to do so (I hear that as an excuse a lot).

Terry Blount

  (2:53 PM)

The logistics are problem because rescheduling causes a domino effect. But if I had my choice, I would add Bristol, Sonoma and Indy and subtract Dover, Cali and NH. I realize Indy isnt great racing, but it's a huge event and would bring tremendous national attention as the Chase opener.

JTF (Bayonne, NJ)

Speaking of changing tracks, what tracks that aren't in the Sprint Cup have the best chance of being added to the schedule in the next 5-10 years? And is there another road course out there that MIGHT get added in somewhere?

Terry Blount

  (2:55 PM)

Atlanta and Portland have good road courses, but Montreal is the one that should be added. None of them will any time soon. No current track has a chance of getting added. NASCAR/ISC wants to build new tracks in Seattle, Denver and NY, but that isn't happening now either.

Kathrine (NYC)

Will Danica distraction at Jr Motorsports give Dale Nation 1 more excuse for Dale's lack of performance?

Terry Blount

  (2:56 PM)

No. One has no bearing on the other.

Marcus (Houston)

Who's gonna drive the Ganassi #1 in 2010 and will that be a 2 car team?

Terry Blount

  (2:58 PM)

Probably McMurray. It's looking like two cars.

Kathrine (NYC)

Who are you hearing might be interested in cup series sponsorship when the Sprint contract expires?

Terry Blount

  (2:59 PM)

No one is talking about that for now. Corporate American is hurting, as you know.

dps (sa,tx)

I vote to get rid of the dega chase race and go to the Batber road course so Alabama doesn't lose a race. What do you think?

Terry Blount

  (3:00 PM)

Not gonna happen.

T-berry (J-town)

We're going visit JR Motorsports and Hendricks over Thanksgiving. Any chance of seeing any drivers there?

Terry Blount

  (3:01 PM)

Not likely. Thanksgiving is the first week of a short off season.

ernie (baltimore md.)

how will nascar fix ristrictor plate racing?

Terry Blount

  (3:02 PM)

If I knew that I could quit buying lottery tickets. That question has gone unanswered for 20 years

JTF (Bayonne, NJ)

Terry, there used to be a race track in Staten Island and there is a LOT of space there. A NYC track IS a definite possibility.

Terry Blount

  (3:03 PM)

No it's not. ISC gave up on the Staten Island project. If it happens, it will be many years down the road.

Terry Blount

  (3:03 PM)

Gotta run. Off to do NASCAR Now. Have a great week everyone. I'm out. Peace.