donethat - 02 March 2008 11:59 AM

MoparMan42 - 01 March 2008 08:03 PM

Kyle just needs to step out of the car and let a driver that can compete for something take over.

Look no further than the job Labonte has done in the 43 car to see Kyle needs to step aside.

No way he is in the top 35 at any time this year. You look at the guys in front of him in points and pick more than 1 you think are going to fall out?

Regan Smith is 38th in points and the 01 car is in trouble. I don't think he climbs in either. I would look for Hornish to fall out only because of his inexperience in these cars I think he will get in numerous wrecks just like last week.

Kvapil will get in the top 35. He has a decent car this week. Unless Mears has another wreck/car problem he will be in the top 35 after today.
I could see possibly Mayfield fall out.

#### I should have played a couple bets on those predictions.

A guy on one of the Canes boards took Hornish in his C group this week. I made a side bet he would wreck Sunday. I won before lap 50.

All 3 MWR cars are near the 35 cut off. Although the go or go home group is not as strong as last year and they should make most races on speed. Which means after race 6 the Wood Bros will have a spot locked in for 6 weeks with Elliott.

It's going to be interesting to see who is outside the top 35 after Martinsville. Things aren't looking too good for Kyle to be in. I hope I'm wrong, but I think the top 35 rule is going to put the Wood Brothers #21 out of business this year. I also think a couple of the open wheel guys will be there and will probably miss races (Carpentier, Hornish, Franchitti). Regan Smith isn't looking too good either in the #01.

One thing I don't like about the top 35 rule is it seems like once you are out, it's extremely hard to get back in. If Nascar is going to continue with a rule like this, I say lock in the top 25 or 30.

jl1718 - 03 March 2008 07:13 PM

If they swap points Bobby is good as gone. He was PO'ed when the topic came up last year.

I expect them to swap the points, especially since they probably figure Bobby is leaving anyway.

If they swap points.....2 cars will be outside the top 35.

Swapping points would be a band-aid at best, just look at the 77 team, they're already out of the top 35 in points and it wouldn't surprise me to see them stay there. Is Roger just going to keep swapping back between the 2 and the 77? Is that allowable? If it was allowable, what would that do to morale on the (labeled) 2 team?

As for Petty, they have squandered the opportunity of Bobby Labonte. Kyle should have stepped aside after Bobby got there, and they should have brought in a younger, talented driver who was capable of energizing the team and learning from Bobby. As it is, Bobby has basically been running as a single car without real benefit of a teammate. But even that would only be a small step in the right direction.

It's like they made the difficult decision to move out of Level Cross and now they expect to be able to sit still for awhile. If it was only that simple.

J. - 01 March 2008 05:58 PM

17isdewalt - 01 March 2008 04:27 PM

...he has overwhelmingly earned the right to say when he wants to stop racing...

As has been pointed out, his last name's on the race shop. Earned it or not, he has the "right" to do whatever he wants. I can't speak for anyone else, but what I find so distressing is that on one hand he seems to be willing to consider stepping out of the 45, but the reality of actually doing it...? What is he waiting for?? The 45 team is currently in a situation where they may not be able to get into the top 35 in the next few weeks, and if that happens.... I don't think there are many race fans who would be happy with the demise of Petty Enterprises, although more and more it seems that it might be the inevitable outcome of the current competitive environment in NASCAR and the Petty's refusal to acknowledge the reality of that climate.

Perhaps part of the reason Bobby Labonte's name has been in the rumor mill is because he doesn't have a lot of confidence that he'll have a ride in another year or two.

It's probably tough, it's got to be like walking away from one of the last pieces of Adam that he still has with him. The 45 car was supposed to be for the kid, and Kyle is still in it and still driving because of the accident at NHIS.

I love the standard reply from (presumably) the younger posters.

"Old man, he's done, kick him to the curb, bring on the newest/latest superstar flavor of the week - they're what NASCAR is all about, not some washed up (insert driver's name) whose family has been involved in building the sport."

burton31fan - 03 March 2008 10:12 PM

It's going to be interesting to see who is outside the top 35 after Martinsville. Things aren't looking too good for Kyle to be in. I hope I'm wrong, but I think the top 35 rule is going to put the Wood Brothers #21 out of business this year. I also think a couple of the open wheel guys will be there and will probably miss races (Carpentier, Hornish, Franchitti). Regan Smith isn't looking too good either in the #01.

One thing I don't like about the top 35 rule is it seems like once you are out, it's extremely hard to get back in. If Nascar is going to continue with a rule like this, I say lock in the top 25 or 30.

How can you blame the top 35 rule on the #21's woes this year?

Daytona - Time trials -45th
California - In because of PCP rain out rule
Vegas - Crashed during qualifying

2007 last 8 races:
29th - Kansas (Schrader) - Qualified 37th and made race
30th - Dega (Schrader) -Qualified 51st and fell back on OP (Top 35 rule)
31st - Charlotte - Qualified 35th and made race
32nd - Martinsville - Qualified 45th and used PCP
33rd - Atlanta - Qualified 38th and used PCP (Top 35 rule into play)
34th - Texas - Qualified 30th and made race
35th - Phoenix - Qualified 46th and used PCP
36th - Homestead - Qualified 47th and used PCP

I am thinking that something is going on considering their move from Level Cross (sp). If Bobby leaves it might be a parade of others to the door. I wish them well.

It seems hard to believe, but according to the standings on NASCAR.com, the 45 (after running 4 races) is only 68 points ahead of the 84 which was in its first race today. So after one race the 84 is closer to the 45 than the 45 is to the 55, the car currently in 35th place (Kyle is 77 points behind 35th).

Unless I'm reading the standings wrong, which I very well could be because that seems hard to believe...